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National  sportsman,  ino. 

75  Federal  Street, 
Boston,  Mass. 


THE 


AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND 


BY 

HAIDEN  C.  TRIGG. 

(FULL  CRY) 


Embracing  a  History  of  the  Celebrated  Trigg,  Birdsong 
and  Maupin  Strains. 


PRICE  $1.25. 


HAIDEN  C.  TRIGG,  GLASGOW,  KY. 
Originator  of  the  Trigg  Red  Fox  Dog. 


PREFACE. 


I  have  received  of  late  years  so  many  letters  from  parties 
who  have  come  into  possession  of  what  has  become  known  as 
the  Trigg  Dog,  and  from  others  desiring  to  secure  them,  that 
I  have  at  last  decided  to  write  this  book,  intended  as  a  brief 
history  of  my  dogs  and  those  of  Messrs.  Birdsong  and  Maupin 
from  which  the  Trigg  Dog  originated.  I  shall  be  brief,  con- 
lining  myself  to  facts  gathered  from  my  personal  acquaint- 
ance with  both  Mr.  Birdsong  and  Mr.  Maupin  and  their  dogs, 
and  from  my  numerous  correspondence  with  these  and  other 
famous  lovers  of  the  chase,  extending  over  thirty-five  years. 
Some  of  the  letters  I  have  submitted  herewith,  believing  they 
would  be  interesting  and  instructive  to  the  new  generation  of 
sportsmen. 

I  have  the  greatest  confidence  in  the  strains  mentioned 
herein,  hut  the  different  modes  of  hunting  the  fox  in  various 
.sections  require  certain  qualities  to  predominate;  then,  there 
are  "as  many  men  of  many  minds"  as  there  are  dogs  of  kihigh 
and  1owt  degree." 

I  believe,  after  twenty-five  years  acquaintance  with  them, 
during  which  time  I  have  tested  their  speed,  nose,  hunting 
qualities,  etc.,  with  representative  dogs  from  nearly  every  fa- 
mous pack  of  the  country,  and  from  the  evidence  of  their 
worth  as  testified  to  by  many  letters  from  those  who  have  run 
them  after  various  game  in  other  States,  that  T  have  a  strain 
of  dogs  at  least  as  good  as  those  of  their  famous  ancestors 
or  any  of  to-day.  I  know  from  almost  daily  experience  that  I 
can  run  to  earth  or  catch  the  red  fox. 

To  those  of  you  who  have  my  dogs,  and  to  you  who  have 
other  strains,  we  invite  correspondence.  I  will  be  glad  to 
exchange  information,  experiences,  etc. 

Jan.  1,  1890.  HAIDEN  C.  TRIGG. 

(5) 


CONTENTS. 


The  Author    ( Illustration) 3 

Preface    5 

Red  Fox  Horn  ( Illustration) 9 

The    Chase • 11 

Business    (Illustration) 1" 

Old  and  Modern  Hounds 19 

Gray  Fox   Horn    (Illustration) 21 

George  L.  F.  Birdsona   (Illustration) 25 

"Uncle  Wash"  Maupin   ( Illustration) 29 

Birdsong  and  Maupin  Dogs 34 

Letters  from  Famous  Hunters 36 

"Dick's    Dog"    (Illustration) 37 

Jake  (Illustration)    51 

Annie    ( Illustration) 65 

H.  C.  Trigg's  Residence   (Illustration) 69 

National    Meet    ( Illustration) 73 

Buying   and    Selling ^9 

Death  of  Hornet ^ 

Description    of    Dogs 81 

Ned    ( Illustration) 85 

The  Full  Cry  Pack 87 

Twenty-four    Years    Ago 94 

Full  Cry  Hounds  (Illustration) 95 


RED  FOX  HORN. 
W.  J.  Morton,  Weatherf ord ,  Tex.,  to  H.  C.  Trigg,  Glasgow,  Ky. 


THE  CHASE. 


"  Independent  of  the  pleasure  arising  from  the  chase  I  have  always  consid- 
ered a  covert  side,  with  hounds  that  are  well  attended,  to  be  one  of  the  most  lively 
scenes  in  nature.  The  pride  of  the  morning,  the  meeting  of  friends,  and  the 
anticipation  of  diversion,  contributes  to  raise  the  spirits  and  expand  the  soul." 

The  English  people,  for  centuries,  have  indulged  in  the 
fox  chase  and  have  spent  thousands  of  pounds  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  hound. 

Our  ancestors  who  settled  in  Virginia  and  Maryland 
brought  over  with  them  the  love  of  the  chase  which,  at  an 
early  day,  permeated  the  States  of  Georgia,  the  Carolinas, 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  The  sportsmen  of  these  States,  in 
ante-bellum  days,  were  lavish  in  their  expenditures  on  the 
improvement  of  the  fox-hound.  I  think  our  best  strains  of 
dogs  to-day  are  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  the  English,  for  this 
country.  This,  1  know,  is  a  bold  assertion,  and  may  be  chal- 
lenged, but  'tis  said  that  experience  is  the  best  of  teachers. 

I  have  owned  and  seen  many  imported  dogs,  but  have  yet 
to  see  one  the  superior  or  equal  of  our  best  American  ani- 
mals. This  country  requires  a  different  dog  from  England. 
There,  the  land  is  nearly  all  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation; 
the  coverts  are  small  and  the  atmospheric  conditions  more 
favorable  for  holding  the  scent.  The  hunters  ride  to  these 
small  covert  sides  where  the  fox  is  known  to  be  located  and 
tind  him.  With  us  we  must  have  dogs  of  superior  nose  and 
better  ranging  qualities,  that  will  go  a  great  distance  in  our 
immense  woodlands  in  quest  of  the  game.  The  large  English 
hound  of  the  same  speed  in  the  open  wrould  be  outfooted  by 
our  smaller  American  dog  in  the  brier-fields  and  heavy  under- 
growth of  our  forests. 

The  late  turfman,  Mr.  Harper,  was  once  asked  the  first 
requisite  of  a  race  horse.  "Speed,"  he  answered.  "What 
next?"     "More   speed,"   he   replied.     Not   so    with    the    fox- 

(ii) 


12  THE  AM  ERIC  AX  FOX-HOUND. 

hound;  he  must  possess  other  qualities — ranging,  good  nose, 
with  judgment,  a  good  tongue,  true  to  the  line  and  dead  game. 
The  National  Fox  Hunters'  Association  has  recently  adopt- 
ed a  standard  for  the  American  fox-hound.  It  is  certainly 
pleasing  to  the  eve  and  desirable  to  see  a  pack  uniform  in  size 
and  color,  but  as  nearly  all  the  best  packs  in  this  country 
are  owned  and  maintained  by  individuals,  it  will  be  some 
years  before  we  can  hope  to  breed  with  any  certainty  of  get- 
ting this  standard.  Few  beginners  realize  the  time,  trouble 
and  expense  it  requires  to  breed,  rear  or  get  together  a  pack 
of  well  broke  hounds,  that  can  and  will  kill  or  drive  to  earth 
the  red  fox  in  from  one  to  three  hours.  To  begin  with,  the 
greatest  care  and  good  judgment  should  be  exercised  in  se- 
lecting breeders.  None  but  dogs  of  known  ancestry,  whose 
gameness  and  speed  have  been  tried  and  tested  with  others 
of  reputation,  should  be  bred.  We  put  gameness  and  speed 
hrst,  but  there  are  other  qualities  almost  as  important.  The 
breeders  should  be  sound  in  limb,  perfectly  healthy,  and  free 
of  blemishes,  with  ranging  qualities,  a  good  nose  and  true  to 
the  line.  It  is  not  always  possible  to  find  these  requisites 
combined,  as  they  should  be,  in  one  dog,  but  breed  so  as  to  get 
these  as  near  as  possible,  and  at  the  same  time  try  to  eliminate 
the  objectionable  traits.  If  you  have  a  bitch  that  is  deficient 
in  any  one  of  these  qualities  you  should  select  for  your  stud1 
dog  one  that  surpasses  in  this  respect.  Thus,  by  paying  close 
attention  to  these  selections  one  can,  in  time,  produce  with 
almost  a  certainty  the  standard,  or  his  ideal  dog. 

I  do  not  advocate  too  close  in-breeding,  though  I  have 
known  instances  of  very  satisfactory  results  from  such.  My 
Georgia  friends,  during  the  sixties,  thought  so  much  of  the 
dog  "July"  that  they  in-bred  him  extensively.  The  result 
has  been  the  perpetuation  of  his  good  points  to  an  amazing 
extent,  and  produced  a  type  differing  from  the  dogs  of  the 
same  parent  strain. 

I  have  tried  the  same  experiment  in  breeding  ''Forest"  to 
one  of  his  get,  and  although  I  have  raised  five  of  the  puppies 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  13 


the  result  was  not  satisfactory,  none  proving  equal  to  either 
sire  or  dam.  The  second  or  third  generations  were  more  sat- 
isfactory. 

If  possible,  the  young  dog  should  be  reared  under  your 
own  supervision.  For  ten  years  I  have  made  it  a  rule  to  al- 
ways be  present  when  the  dogs  were  fed,  or  rather  to  feed 
(hem  myself,  and  by  so  doing  I  gained  the  affections  of  my 
pack,  and  saw  that  the  more  timid  ones  got  their  share  of  the 
rations.  If  you  wish  your  kennel  well  attended,  do  it  your- 
self; if  half-done,  get  a  good  man  to  do  it  for  you. 

Feed  regularly  on  wholesome  food.  The  youngster  can  be 
injured  as  much  by  overfeeding  with  strong  rations  as  by  not 
being  fed  enough.  A  puppy  fed  entirely  on  meat,  or  the  re- 
fuse of  a  slaughter  pen,  will  develop  an  abnormal  neck  and 
head,  and  become  awkward  in  his  actions.  After  they  become 
old  enough  to  roam,  they  should  be  unrestrained.  The  hound 
requires  more  exercise  to  keep  him  in  condition  than  any 
other  species  of  the  dog  family.  The  puppy  should  be  en- 
couraged to  chase  rabbits  as  soon  as  they  will  give  tongue  on 
the  trail,  and  later  should  be  hunted  for  the  gray  fox  before 
trying  him  on  a  red.  This  exercise  is  necessary  for  the  prop- 
er development  of  the  body  and  the  education  of  the  young 
dog. 

Never  raise  a  puppy  by  himself.  I  have  frequently  taken 
such  in  my  kennels  when  fifteen  or  eighteen  months  old,  and 
it  took  time  and  trouble  to  get  them  to  hark  to  the  pack.  If 
in  the  country  on  a  farm  with  hay  ricks,  straw  stacks,  shuck 
pens,  out  houses,  etc.,  the  dog  should  be  allowed  to  select  his 
own  sleeping-place,  which  he  will  change  often — as  sleeping 
in  the  same  place  for  a  long  time  without  change  of  bedding 
will  develop  disease  and  vermin.  If  confined,  their  beds  can 
not  be  changed  too  often. 

You  must  exercise  great  discretion  in  training  young  dogs. 
The  experienced  sportsman  will  detect  any  peculiar  traits 
when  first  taken  to  the  field.  After  a  few  chases,  some  young- 
sters will  at  once  abandon  rabbits  and  other  game  and  give 


14  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

tongue  only  on  the  fox's  trail,  while  others  will  persist  in 
hunting  and  giving  mouth  to  all  kind  of  game.  Patience  must 
be  exercised  with  this  latter  class.  Some  will  require  severe 
punishment,  while  others  can  be  taught  best  by  persuasion. 
It  is  a  sure  sign  of  a  good  dog  for  the  puppy  to  begin  hunting 
early  and  keep  it  up  persistently. 

In  taking  the  young  dog  after  his  first  red  fox,  it  is  im- 
portant that  you  have  well  trained  dogs  in  your  pack,  that  will 
cry  nothing  but  the  game  desired.  The  puppy  will  soon 
learn  their  tongues,  and,  relying  on  them,  will  abandon  his 
rabbit  and  hearken  to  the  first  challenge. 

Silence  and  patience  are  the  two  essential  qualifications  of 
the  sportsman.  Above  all  things,  learn  to  govern  yourself. 
Hallooing  and  sounding  the  horn  is  indulged  in  too  much  by 
many  of  the  sportsmen.  Often  have  I  known  men  who  owned 
quite  handsome  packs  start  out  in  the  morning  by  blowing 
their  horns  and  constantly  hallooing  and  keeping  up  the  noise 
during  the  entire  day.  The  result  is  the  fox  is  off  before 
the  dogs  get  up  to  him.  and  such  packs  are  noisy  and  riotous 
in  imitation  of  their  masters.  Learn  to  keep  your  mouth  shut, 
and  only  give  vent  to  your  feelings  when  spontaneous  and 
you  can  not  keep  it. 

Much  injustice  is  done  dogs  by  hunting  them  and  expect- 
ing a  run  on  cold,  wintry  days,  often  when  the  ground  is  frozen 
;md  tin1  conditions  altogether  unfavorable.  There  being  no 
scent,  the  dogs  can  not  possibly  carry  the  trail.  They  are 
then  criticised,  when  really  the  hunters  or  master  is  at  fault. 
Our  Kentucky  climate  is  not  very  favorable  for  hunting.  1 
average  not  more  than  one  good  day  in  seven  during  the  hunt- 
ing season.  The  best  time  for  the  hunt  is  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, when  the  ground  is  damp  and  the  temperature  not  below 
freezing.  The  atmosphere  should  be  heavy,  with  a  light 
southern  breeze  and  a  cloudy  sky.  On  such  a  morning,  the 
pack  will  run  with  heads  up  and  sterns  down,  and  will  not 
have  to  straddle  the  trail.  Gel  to  the  covert  by  daylight, 
or  as  soon  thereafter  as  possible;  keep  quiet  until  the  game 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  15 


is  up  and  running;  then,  if  practicable,  ride  with  your  dogs, 
not  getting  close  enough  to  interfere  with  the  scent.  If  the 
country  is  such  that  you  are  unable  to  follow,  ride  to  the 
known  crossing. 

Some  prefer  night  hunting,  but  to  me  the  sight  of  the  fox, 
followed  by  a  pack  of  fleet  hounds  in  full  cry,  is  the  most  ex- 
citing scene  imaginable.  But  if  you  can  not  spare  the  time 
to  hunt  during  the  day,  night  hunting  has  some  decided  ad- 
yantages.  In  the  country  I  have  no  diversions,  such  as  thea- 
ters, lectures  and  other  entertainments,  enjoyed  by  city  folks, 
so  I  can  spend  the  long  winter  eyenings  in  the  enjoyment  of 
the  chase.  The  cry  made  by  hounds  at  night  sounds  much 
more  musical  than  by  day;  the  fox  stands  up  longer;  the  at- 
mospheric conditions  are  better;  the  dogs  make  fewer  faults; 
stock  is  at  rest,  and  the  game  is  not  so  wild  and  more  read- 
ily found.  The  fox  or  dogs  are  not  often  seen,  but  the  trained 
ear  of  the  experienced  sportsman  knows  the  tongue  of  every 
dog  in  his  pack,  and  by  the  way  it  is  given  can  almost  to  a 
certainty  place  their  positions  in  a  race  on  the  darkest  night. 

In  this  State  I  have  one  trouble  in  killing  the  fox  which 
is  experienced  m  no  other  State,  to  the  same  extent.  A  red 
fox  is  familiar  with  every  burrow  in  his  territory,  which  is 
usually  from  five  to  ten  miles  in  extent.  Kentucky  is  so 
honeycombed  with  these  safe  retreats  that  the  fox  is  at  all 
times  in  easy  reach  of  some  one  of  them.  Frequently,  when 
fairly  beaten,  he  saves  iiis  life  by  taking  refuge  in  one  of  these 
numerous'  holes  or  caverns,  yet  I  often  kill  in  the  open. 

I  am  sometimes  amused  at  our  Northern  friends  think- 
ing that  we  could  neither  kill  or  drive  to  earth  the  red  fox. 
Some  months  ago  I  received  a  letter  from  a  member  of  the 
Ohicopee  Fox  Club,  of  Chicopee,  Massachusetts,  saying:  "I 
have  never  yet  seen  a  Southern  fox-hound  worth  the  powder 
to  blow  his  brains  out."  This  gentleman  and  his  club  have 
certainly  been  imposed  upon  by  some  of  the  unreliable  dog 
dealers  to  be  found  all  over  the  country.  Never  get  a  dog 
from  a  man  unless  he  be  a  practical  and  reliable  sportsman. 


16  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 


We  would  say  to  our  Massachusetts  friend  in  particular,  and 
our  Northern  friends  in  general,  get  on  a  train  and  come 
South,  and  see  for  yourselves.  You  will  find  the  latchstring 
hanging  on  the  outer  wall  of  every  fox  hunter  in  Kentucky, 
whether  he  lives  in  a  log  cabin  or  a  brick  or  a  stone  mansion. 
The  mode  and  object  of  hunting  the  fox  in  the  South  dif- 
fers materially  from  that  of  the  North.  Our  style  partakes 
more  of  the  English;  we  use  horses  that  will  and  do  take 
fences  and  stone  walls.  They  are  bred  to  stand  our  hard, 
cross-country  riding.  I  delight  in  the  chase  itself,  and  take 
every  means  possible  to  protect  the  game,  never  killing  un- 
less fairly  caught  in  the  open  by  the  dogs.  In  the  North, 
where  the  red  fox  is  more  plentiful,  the  greater  pleasure  of 
the  chase  seems  to  be  in  shooting  the  game.  This  mode  of 
killing  sounds  strange  to  the  ears  of  the  Southern  sportsman. 
It  is  claimed  that  foxes  are  so  plentiful  there  and  change  so 
often  on  the  dogs  that  it  is  difficult  to  kill  or  drive  them  to 
earth  with  their  dogs.  A  few  years  ago,  I  received  a  letter 
from  a  gentleman  north  of  the  Ohio,  who  claims  to  be  a  great 
lover  of  the  chase  and  advertises  his  strain  of  dogs  exten- 
sively. In  replying  to  him,  I  made  inquiry  as  to  his  mode  of 
hunting,  whether  his  country  was  a  good  one  to  ride  over, 
and  did  he  .have  horses  that  were  trained  to  take  fences. 
Replying  to  my  inquiry  he  said  that  be  "usually  hunted  in  u 
buggy.'"  I  dropped  his  letter  in  the  waste-basket  and  never 
replied.  Only  an  octogenarian  could  be  excused  for  such  a 
turnout. 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  19 


OLD  AND  MODERN  HOUNDS. 


From  1845  to  1800  I  owned  a  pack  of  those  grand  old 
iong-eared,  rat-tail,  deep-toned,  black-and-tan  Virginia,  fox 
hounds.  In  those  happy,  bygone  days  I  could  on  a  moon- 
light night  ride  to  the  covert  side,  throw  my  leg  over  the 
pommel  of  my  saddle  and  listen  for  hours  to  the  most  magnifi- 
cent music  made  by  the  ever-to-be-remembered  dogs. 

But,  alas,  everything  must  have  an  end.  In  1860  the  red 
fox  first  made  his  advent  into  my  section  and  the  days  of  these 
dogs  were  ended.  The  coming  of  the  red  fox  made  a  great 
change  in  the  chase.  The  most  important  thing  was  to  get 
a  dog  thai  could  successfully  walk  with  him.  With  me  it 
required  years  of  work,  patience,  considerable  expense,  and 
a  world  of  trouble  to  gather  the  desired  pack.  I  am  now  on 
the  shady  side  of  life  and  will  soon  have  to  bow  to  the  inevit- 
able. That  my  strain  of  dogs,  of  which  I  feel  a  right  to  be 
proud,  may  be  preserved,  I  have  consented  to  give  a  brief  his- 
tory of  them  to  the  sportsmen  of  America,  believing  that  by 
great  care  in  selecting,  judicious  breeding,  and  constant  hunt- 
ing for  the  past  thirty-five  years,  I  have  produced  a  dog  that 
can  successfully  compete  with  the  red  fox. 

Tn  1866,  I  opened  correspondence  with  George  L.  F.  Bird- 
song,  of  Thomaston,  Georgia,  and  purchased  of  him  that  year 
and  in  1867  the  following  dogs,  paying  these  prices: 

Ohase  and  Bee   (by  Longstreet)    $100.00 

George    100.00 

Rip    100.00 

Fannie    100.00 

Lee  wTas  presented  to  me. 

In  1868,  I  visited  Mr.  Birdsong  and  spent  a  week  with  him. 
He  was  then  in  feeble  health,  in  fact  threatened  with  that 
terrible  disease,  consumption,  from  which  he  died  the  18th  of 
August  the  following  year. 


20  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

He  was  able  to  take  me  on  but  one  bunt,  when  we  caught 
a  red  fox  in  forty-live  minutes.  I  suspected  the  fox  was  not 
in  condition  to  run,  and  held  a  post  mortem,  but  found  nothing 
wrong  with  him. 

Mr.  Birdsong  then  had  in  his  kennel — we  had  him  in  the 
hunt — a  dog  that  has  been  talked  about  a  great  deal  in  late 
years,  "July."  We  also  had]  in  the  pack  three  of  his  get,  1 
think  then  about  three  years  old,  i.  c:  "Madcap/'  "Lightfoot" 
and  "Echo."  He  also  had  three  yearlings  out  of  "Echo"  by 
his  celebrated  dog,  "Longstreet,"  i.  c. :  "Delta,"  "Dumas,"  and 
"David."  By  begging  two  days  and  paying  five  hundred  dol- 
lars ($500)  he  let  me  have  "Lightfoot"  and  "Delta."  In  addi- 
tion to  these  I  purchased  of  Colonel  R.  H.  Ward,  of  Green 
county,  Georgia,  "Forest,"  by  "Boston,"  paying  one  hundred 
dollars,  and  "Emma"  at  the  same  figures.  "Rose,"  a  full  sis- 
ter to  Echo,  by  July,  and  "Hampton,"  were  loaned  me.  Rose, 
I  returned  after  she  whelped,  but  Hampton  died  in  my  kennel 
a  few  months  after  I  received  him. 

In  1807  I  visited  General  G.  W.  Maupin,  of  Madison  coun- 
ty, Kentucky,  and  was  present  at  the  great  match  race  be- 
tween Ben  Robinson,  of  Montgomery  county  and  General 
Maupin.  This  meet  took  place  at  the  Oil  Spring,  in  Clark 
county,  and  was  much  talked  about  by  the  hunters  every- 
where at  that  time. 

After  the  race  I  accompanied  General  Maupin  home,  spend- 
ing several  days  hunting  with  him.  On  my  departure  I  pur- 
chased of  him  a  young  bitch  called  "Minnie,"  that  was  one  or 
two  crosses  from  his  celebrated  dog,  "Tennessee  Lead,"  on 
one  side  and  the  imported  English  dogs  on  the  other.  Colonel 
C.  J.  Walker  at  the  same  time  gave  me  a  young  bitch  called 
"Mattie,"  the  pedigree  of  which  is  the  same  as  that  seen  m 
Colonel  Walker's  letter  herein.  Both  of  these  were  proud, 
magnificent  f ox-hounds. 

In  1861),  I  visited  W.  L.  Waddy  and  Thomas  Ford  of  Shelby 
county,  who  had  a  splendid  pack  of  the  Maupin  strain  of  dogs. 


TEE  AMERICAN  FOX-EOUND. 


I  hunted  some  days  with  these  gentlemen.     Mr.  Waddy  was 
sc  well  pleased  with  my  dogs  that  he  requested  me  on  my  de- 
parture to  take  some  of  his  best  dogs  with  me  and  test  their 
qualities.     I  selected  three,  L  <?.,  "Tip,"  "Waxy,"  and  his  cele- 
brated dog,  -One  Eyed  King."     This  last  dog  was  closely  re- 
lated to  Mr.  Maupin's  "Lead"  and  the  English  importation  of 
1857.     I  hunted  these  dogs  about  six  months.     The  dog  "King" 
was  a  wonderful  animal  for  speed,  and  dead  game,  though 
deficient  in  nose.     I  crossed  him  on  Delta  (by  Longstreet  out 
of  Echo  by  July)  and  succeeded  in  raising  two  puppies,  a  dog 
and  a  bitch.     The  dog  I  kept  and  called  "Money."     He  was 
the  fastest  dog  I  ever  owned,  but  not  so  game  as  others  of 
my   pack.     The   bitch   puppy   I   sent  to   Mr.   Waddy   and  he 
called  her  "Echo."     She  proved  to  be  superior  to  anything 
in  Mr.  Waddy's  pack.     The  following  year  Mr.  Waddy  and 
Thomas  Ford  paid  me  a  visit.     On  their  return  I  let  them  take 
my  celebrated  dog  "Forest."     They  had  some  bitches  served 
by  him,  the  produce  being,  like  that  of  King  and  Delta,  su- 
perior  to    any   dogs  they   had   previously   owned.     I    submit 
letters  herewith  bearing  me  out  in  these  statements. 

About  four  years  ago  I  got  of  Mr.  E.  T.  Halsey,  of  Lou- 
isville, an  imported  dog,  "Portland,"  from  the  "Quorn  Kern 
nels,"  England.  This  dog,  like  all  imported  dogs  that  I  have 
■ever  seen,  was  too  large  for  our  country.  He  was  deficient 
in  nose,  speed  and  ranging  qualities— in  fact  a  failure.  I  bred 
him  to  a  few  of  my  bitches  and  the  produce  proved  fairly  good. 
I  think  by  three  or  four  crosses  they  will  make  fine  animals. 
About  the  same  time  W.  §.  Walker,  of  Garrard  County,  Ken- 
tucky, was  kind  enough  to  send  me  one  of  his  stud  dogs,  which 
J  crossed  on  some  of  our  best  bitches,  the  produce  proving 
very  satisfactory.  Mr.  Walker  is  an  experienced,  practical 
sportsman,  has  a  fine  pack  of  dogs  and  is  doing  a  great  deal 
toward  improving  the  fox-hound  in  Kentucky. 

From  1867  to  1890  I  have  had  in  my  kennel  the  following 
dogs,  of  the  pure  Birdsong,  Maupin  and  Walker  strains,  which 


24 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 


1  begged,  borrowed  and  bought  for  the  purpose  of  improving 
my  pack; 


MAUPIN'S 

BIRDSONG'S 

WALKER'S 

MINNIE 

CHASE 

BUCKNER 

MATTIE 

BEE 

SCOTT 

LEAD 

GEORGE 

TROOPER 

COUCHMAN 

LIGHTFOOT 

BOB 

DELTA 

DICK 

RIP 

MILTON 

FANNIE 

BLUCHER 

LEE 

MAC 

FOREST 

RAIBY  (Called  Redhead) 

EMMA 

TIP 

HAMPTON 

WAXEY 

WARD 

ONE  EYED  KING 

ROSE 

HAEFER'S  DICK 

EMMA  SAMPSON 

ROCK 

VENUS 

MERCY 

LEE 

BRENDA 

General  Maupin,  the  Walkers,  Sam  Martin,  Gentrys, 
Whites  and  others  of  that  section  were  honest  in  their  belief 
that  Fox,  Killer,  Martin,  Queen,  Tennessee  Lead,  Tickler,  Dor. 
Kate,  Top,  Towstring,  Minnie  and  other  famous  dogs  of  their 
packs  were  superior  to  any  dogs  of  their  day. 

Mr.  Birdsong,  the  Wards,  Robinsons,  Kidgleys,  Jacksons, 
and  others  of  Georgia  were  equally  as  confident  that  Hodo, 
July,  Longstreet,  Flora,  Forest,  Echo,  Hampton,  Madcap, 
Lightfoot,  Fannie,  and  others  of  their  packs  were  the  peers  of 
any  living  dogs. 

Mr.  Waddy  and  Tom  Ford  of  Shelby  county,  Kentucky, 
thought   as   well    of   their   One   Eyed   King,   Tip,   Josephine, 


*  j&r 

GEO.  L.  F.  BIRDSONG. 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  27 

Venus,   and   others.     W.  B.    Walker,   whose   letter  is   given, 
states  his  opinion  as  to  the  merits  of  Trooper. 

I  differ  from  some  men  who  make  the  bold  assertion  that 
they  have  the  best  dogs  on  earth.  Because  a  favorite  dog 
runs  in  the  lead  of  a  certain  pack  does  not  warrant  his  ad- 
mirers in  stating  he  can  beat  ail  alike.  Dogs  are  like  race 
horses;  they  are  the  best  until  they  meet  their  superiors.  The 
true  sportsman  is  never  so  prejudiced  as  not  to  admit  that 
there  may  be  other  dogs  equal  to  his  own,  and  that  by  cross- 
ing- on  such  dogs  his  strain  would  be  improved. 


GEORGE  L.  F.  BIRDSONG. 


Previous  to  our  Civil  War,  no  class  of  people  were 
so  fortunately  situated  as  to  indulge  their  tas^te  and 
follow  their  inclinations  as  the  Southern  planter.  The  o^ 
cupation  of  the  planter  was  considered  as  honorable  as  any  in 
the  South.  'Professional  men  and  statesmen  had  their  plan- 
tations, embracing  thousands  of  acres,  and  hundreds  of  slaves. 
They  had  certain  incomes,  lived  up  to  them,  indulging  their 
tastes  as  fancy  or  inclination  desired.  They  spent  part  of 
their  winters  in  New  Orleans  or  Cuba  and  their  summers  in 
the  North.  Many  of  them  were  educated  at  the  best  col- 
leges of  the  country,  were  fine  scholars  and  entertaining  writ- 
ers. They  were  not  fond  of  manual  labor,  as  there  was  never 
any  necessity  for  it.  They  possessed  certain  traits  that  were 
never  excelled  by  any  people  of  ancient  or  modern  times. 
Chesterfieldian  in  manners,  they  prized  their  word  and  honor 
above  lucre  or  life.  Their  love  and  devotion  to  woman  bor- 
dered on  worship.  George  L.  F.  Uirdsong  was  one  of  this 
class.  His  time,  fortune  and  life  were  spent  with  books  and 
field  sports,  until  the  beginning  of  the  war,  when  his  fortune  was 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 


given  to  his  country.  He  was  a  connoisseur  on  f ox-hounds,  bird 
dogs  and  lire-arms.  He  imported  the  first  pair  of  red  foxes 
from  New  York  to  this  section  of  Georgia.  He  imported 
hounds  from  Maryland,  Virginia  and  other  States,  when  he 
would  have  to  send  wagons  hundreds  of  miles  for  them,  there 
being  no  railroads  or  express  companies.  If  he  lived  to-day 
he  would  likely  be  called  a  crank.  He  would  have  his  gun 
weigh  seven  pounds  ten  ounces — no  more,  no  less.  His  fox 
horn  was  made  of  the  tusk  of  an  elephant  and  cost  him  $50.00. 
His  hounds  were  of  a  certain  carriage,  peculiar  marks,  pedi- 
greed and  bred  like  the  turfman  does  his  horse.  One  of  thb 
characteristic  marks  of  the  Birdsong  dog  is  a  certain  curl  of 
the  hair  on  1he  shoulder. 

Around  Thomaston,  Georgia,  Mr.  Birdsong's  home,  the 
country  was  peculiarly  adapted  for  the  chase.  Cleared  fields 
embracing)  thousands  of  acres,  no  burrows  or  caves  for  the 
fox  to  take  refuge  in  when  hard  pressed  but  which  he  could  be 
dug  out  of  in  a  short  time.  Dogs  of  no  greater  speed  would 
kill  a  dozen  foxes  in  such  a  country  to  one  in  Kentucky. 

All  of  Birdsong's  hunting  was  done  in  the  daytime. 

Soon  after  the  Henry  dogs  were  imported  by  him  and  he 
had  demonstrated  that  they  could  kill  the  red  fox,  Mr.  Bird- 
song  was  challenged  by  parties  in  a  distant  county  that  had 
a  red  fox  which  they  said  his  dogs  could  not  kill  or  drive  to 
earth.  He  accepted  the  invitation  and  put  his  dogs  in  a 
wagon.  Arriving  at  the  place  he  found  a  great  number  of 
hunters  and  dogs  galore.  In  the  first  day's  hunt  when  the  fox 
was  being  closely  pressed  some  of  the  native  hunters  rocked 
Birdsong's  dogs  and  the  fox  escaped.  MY.  Birdsong  was  in- 
formed of  this  outrage.  At  the  meet  the  next  day  he  made 
the  proposition  that  he  would  run  his  dogs  only,  and  if  he  did 
not  catch  the  fox  he  would  acknowledge  defeat.  After  a  long 
discussion  this  was  finally  agreed  to  hV  the  other  hunters. 
The  fox  was  easily  found  and  after  standing  up  a  couple  of 
hours  was  dead  beat  and  took  refuge  in  a  sand  bank.  The 
hunters  soon  gathered,  and  Birdsong  ordered  his  negro  men 


' '  UNCLE  WASH  ' '  MAUPIN. 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  31 

to  go  for  a  hoe  and  spade.  Some  of  the  native  hunters  de- 
clared he  should  not  dig  the  fox  out.  Colonel  R.  H.  Ward,  of 
the  county,  was  of  the  party,  and  seeing  the  great  injustice 
being  done  Air.  Birdsong,  he  threateningly  declared  that  the 
first  man  that  interfered  with  the  men  digging,  he  would  kill 
on  the  spot.  In  a  short  time  Birdsong  had  the  fox  out,  cut 
off  his  brush  and  handed  him  over  to  the  hunters. 

In  consideration  of  this  fair  treatment  by  Colonel  Ward, 
Mr.  Birdsong,  on  his  return  home,  sent  him  one  of  his  best 
bitches,  "Reel,"  or  "Flora,''  from  which  Colonel  Ward  raised 
his  best  dogs.  Mr.  Birdsong  was  highly  educated  and  a  beau- 
tiful writer.  His  contributions  to  the  Countryman  were  al- 
ways interesting.  His  description  of  a  fox  chase  was  finer 
than  any  I  ever  read. 


GEN.  G.  W.  MAUPIN. 


It  was  fortunate  that  "Uncle  Wash"  Maupin  lived  under 
the  "old  regime"  in  the  long  time  ago  'befoh  de  wall." 

His  surroundings,  the  country  and  people,  were  congenial 
to  one  of  his  nature.  The  early  settlers  of  Madison  county 
were  a  noble  class  of  men;  their  word  was  their  bond.  Such 
unselfish  hospitality  as  existed  in  those  happy,  by-gone  days, 
not  only  in  Madison  county  but  throughout  Kentucky,  will 
probably  never  be  known  again.  Every  neighborhood  shared 
and  shared  alike  when  a  beef  or  mutton  was  killed.  No  man 
thought  of  charging  his  neighbor  for  seed  corn,  potatoes,  or 
garden  seed.  Many  of  those  grand  old  men  would  have  con- 
sidered it  an  insult  for  a  stranger  to  offer  to  pay  for  a  night's 
lodging.  The  question  is  often  discussed,  "Do  college  bred 
men  succeed  best  in  life?"  "Uncle  Wash"  not  only  never  was 
in  college,  but  never  had  the  advantages  of  a  log:  school  house. 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 


Notwithstanding  this  great  disadvantage  he  fought  the  ''bat- 
tie  of  life"  and  won.  He  possessed  very  remarkable  con- 
versational powers  and  was  always  the  central  figure  at  the 
country  gatherings.  His  home,  comprising  a  thousand  acres 
of  Bluegrass  land,  was  very  appropriately  called  "The  Hunter's 
Rest.''  The  latchstring  didn't  hang  on  the  outer  wall  like 
most  of  Kentucky  homes  for  the  reason  that  the  doors  always 
stood  wide  open  to  his  numerous  friends. 

Physically,  he  was  a  magnificent  specimen  of  manhood. 
When  on  the  shady  side  of  life  he  was  yet  as  active  as  an 
athlete.  Well  do  I  remember  the  first  hunt  with  him.  We 
had  started  our  fox  and  the  dogs  were  out  of  hearing.  Most 
of  the  party  had  followed  the  pack,  but  I  remained  with 
"Uncle  Wash."  We  were  riding  as  fast  as  our  horses  could 
carry  us  in  order  to  intercept  the  dogs  at  a  certain  crossing. 
Suddenly  "Uncle  Wash"  was  off  his  horse,  threw  himse'f  flat 
on  the  ground,  with  one  side  of  his  head  pressed  close  to  the 
earth  and  almost  instantly  he  remounted  andi  was  off.  No 
circus  rider  could  have  performed  this  feat  more  gracefully 
and  in  less  time.  After  a  ride  of  twenty  minutes,  under  whip 
and  spur,  we  were  rewarded  by  the  music  of  the  pack  coming 
over  the  mountains  straight  to  us,  when  we  witnessed  the  un- 
usual sight  of  seeing  fox  and  dogs  at  the  same  time,  which 
called  forth  the  view-halloo  from  both  us.  He  was  at  home  when 
mounted  on  a  favorite  horse,  in  the  open  field,  ascending  the 
mountain  side,  charging  a  snake  fence  or  leaping  dangerous 
ditches.  He  never  knew  fear  or  thought  of  danger.  The  ex- 
pert English  rider,  mounted  on  his  best  hunter,  the  Arab  of 
the  far  East,  our  own  cowboy  of  the  Western  plains  could  not 
have  followed  Uncle  Wash,  Sam  Martin  and  others  of  that 
clan,  with  a  strong  fox  in  front  of  such  dogs  at  Tennessee  Lead, 
Top,  Tickler  and  others. 

I  shall  never  forget  a  sight  witnessed  when  with  Uncle 
Wash  and  a  party  of  his  friends  on  a  hunt.  We  were  passing 
through  a  large  plantation.  The  question  of  horses  and  riders 
were  being  discussed,  when  George  Maupin,  a  son  of  General 


THE  AMERICA*  FOX-HOUND.  33 


Maupin,  challenged  bis  cousin  Seth  Maupin,  by  making  tbe  re- 
mark, "You  can  not  follow  me." 

"Give  me  your  hand,"  said  Seth.  Instantly  George  threw 
out  bis  left  band  and  'Seth  seizing  it  with  bis  right,  they  drove 
spurs  into  their  horses  and  made  for  a  ten-rail  stake  and  rid- 
ered  fence,  distant  about  three  hundred  yards.  I  shuddered 
when  I  saw  them  approaching  the  fence  at  sudh  a  speed.  The 
collision  could  have  been  heard  for  a  mile;  riders  and  horses 
went  over;  rails  Hew  in  every  direction.  Seth  Maupin  was 
unhorsed  but  George  kept  bis  seat,  and  riding  some  hundred 
yards  called  back,  "Can  you  follow  me?"  In  the  meantime, 
we  had  come  up.  While  Seth  was  unhorsed,  he  escaped  a 
scratch.  George,  although  retaining  his  seat,  received  a 
severe  cut  across  the  forehead  and  was  bleeding  profusely. 
I  said  to  his  father,  -Had  George  better  not  go  home  and 
sec  a  physician?" 

"No,  son,  that  scratch  is  nothing;  it  will  soon  heal  up,  but 
there,  he  has  broken  one  of  Turner's  rails  that  will  never 
grow   together." 

Just  then  Tickler  gave  tongue  about  half  a  mile  distant. 
Uncle  Wash  was  off  in  an  instant  calling  out,  "Boys,  put  up 
that  fence  before  you  leave  there."  In  half  an  hour  the  boys 
came  up.  George  received  no  sympathy  from  any  of  the 
party  on  account  of  his  hurt.  It  was  looked  upon  as  an  or- 
dinary  occurrence. 

It  was  never  too  cold  or  hot  for  "Uncle  Wash"  to  ride 
twenty  or  thirty  miles.  When  the  ground  was  frozen,  cov- 
ered with  snow  and  ice,  the  temperature  to  zero,  he  would 
build  his  fire  on  the  side  of  a  mountain  and  turn  his  dogs 
loose  of  a  cloudy  night  and  listen  to  them  for  hours.  He  re- 
quired his  dogs  to  follow  the  fox  as  long  as  he  remained  on 
top  of  ground.  The  tendons  of  such  dogs  were  of  iron  and 
their  nerves  of  steel. 


34  THE  AMERICAN  EOX-HOUND. 


BIRDSONG  AND  MAUPIN  DOGS. 


Of  the  men  who  have  passed  from  the  stage  of  life,  none 
deserve  the  gratitude  of  the  lovers  of  the  chase  more  than 
George  L.  F.  Birdsong  of  Georgia,  and  General  Maupin,  of 
Madison  county,  Kentucky. 

In  the  early  forties  Dr.  T.  Y.  Henry  (grandson  of  Patrick 
Henry),  of  Virginia,  presented  George  L.  F.  Birdsong,  of 
Thomaston,  Georgia,  with  a  pair  of  puppies  from  his  pack  of 
hounds,  which  at  thai  time  had  made  an  enviable  reputation 
in  Virginia.  Mr.  Birdsong  sent  a  wagon  overland  (there  be- 
ing no  railroad  at  that  time)  for  the  dogs.  They  proved  to 
be  superior  to  any  dogs  he  had  owned  up  to  that  time.  In 
1841  or  1845  Dr.  Henry,  being  threatened  with  that  dreaded 
disease,  consumption,  was  ordered  South  by  his  physician. 
He  started,  traveling  leisurely  by  wagon,  accompanied  by  a 
party  of  friends,  carrying  his  tine  kennel  of  hounds  with  him, 
stopping  at  different  points,  putting  in  the  time  hunting  and 
fishing  as  it  suited  their  fancy.  Mr.  Birdsong,  being  informed 
of  his  movements,  intercepted  Dr.  Henry  en  route,  spending 
some  days  with  him. 

On  reaching  Florida,  the  deer  being  plentiful,  Dr.  Henry's 
dogs  frequently  ran  them,  when  they  would  always  take  to 
the  bayous  and  lagoons.  AVhen  swimming  after  the  game  the 
dogs  would  be  killed  by  alligators  that  infested  these  waters. 
Dr.  Henry  soon  realized  that  his  much-prized  pack  would  be 
exterminated  if  something  was  not  done.  He  wrote  the  facts 
to  his  friend,  Mr.  Birdsong.  telling  him  that  he  might  have 
the  remnant  of  his  famous  pack  if  he  would  come  after  them. 
Mr.  Birdsong,  while  sympathizing  with  his  friend  in  his  mis- 
fortune, was  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  secure  these  much- 
coveted  dogs,  and  at  once  started  for  them. 

Dr.  Henry  called  them  Irish  hounds,  they  being  descend- 
ants of  ''Mountain"  and  "Muse,"  imported  from   Ireland  by 


TEE  AMERICAN  FOX-EOUND.  35 

Bolton  Jackson,  of  Mai- viand,  and  presented  by  him  to  Cap- 
lain  Sterret  Ridgiey.  He  gave  them  to  Governor  Ogle,  of 
Maryland.  He  gave  Mountain  to  Captain  Charles  Carroll, 
of  Carroliion.  He  gave  him  to  Dr.  Buehannan,  and  he  gave 
Captain  (a  direct  descendant  of  Mountain  and  Muse)  to  Dr. 
Henry.  See  Turf  Register  Col.  3,  pp.  2S7,  350  and  403  Vol. 
4,  pp.  234  and  397.  This  was  the  foundation  of  the  celebrat- 
ed Birdsong  dogs.  In  1861  the  famous  dog,  "July,"  import- 
ed into  Georgia  by  Miles  G.  Harris,  who  purchased  him  of 
Gosnell,  of  Maryland,  was  crossed  on  the  Birdsong  dogs. 
From  letters  in  my  possession  and  private  conversation  with 
Mr.  Birdsong,  1  am  satisfied  that  this  dog  "July"  was  of  the 
same  strain  of  old  'Captain"  and  the  original  Henry  dogs. 

These  dogs  were  called  "Irish  hounds"  by  Dr.  Henry.  Mr. 
Birdsong  insisted  they  be  known  as  the  "Henry  hounds," 
but  they  became  famous  as  the  Birdsong  strain.  Since  the 
importation  of  the  dog  "July"  and  the  death  of  Mr.  Birdsong 
they  have  been  called  indiscriminately  the  "July  hound." 

The  sportsmen  of  Georgia  will  pardon  me  for  expressing 
The  opinion  thai  the  name  "July"  should  never  have  been  sub- 
stituted for  "Birdsong"  I  am  a  ware  of  tin1  fact  that  a  great 
difference  of  opinion  existed  among  the  sportsmen  of  Georgia 
as  to  the  relative  merits  of  the  dogs  after  the  crossing  of 
them  on  July.  "Longstrcet"  and  "llodo"  were  strictly  Bird- 
song dogs,  having  no  cross  of  July  in  them  unless  through  the 
original  importation  of  the  dogs  Mountain  and  Muse. 

I  owned  and  hunted  the  get  of  both  Longstreet  and  July 
and  have  my  opinion  of  the  relative  merits  of  their  produce. 

In  the  early  fifties  General  Maupin  and  his  friends  im- 
ported many  dogs  from  iSouth  Carolina,  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land, sparing  no  expense  to  improve  their  stock.  In  1857 
they  imported  from  England,  1  think,  three  dogs,  '-Fox," 
"Rifier"  and  "Marth."  About  this  time  General  Maupin  got 
from  East  Tennessee  the  dog  "Tennessee  Lead,"  which  he, 
Maupin,  thought  the  best  dog  he  ever  owned.  The  cross  of  the 
English  dogs,  and  especially  the  "Lead"  cross  on  their  pre- 


36  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

vious  importations  produced  a  dog  which  has  justly  become 
famous,  and  was  known  as  the  "Maupin  dog."  This  strain 
has  been  preserved  and  bred  with  great  care  by  AY.  S.  Walker 
&  Bros.,  of  Garrard  county,  Kentucky,  and  are  known  to- 
day as  the  Walker  dogs. 


LETTERS  OF  FAMOUS  HUNTERS. 


I  publish  a  few  of  the  very  many  letters  I  have  on  tile. 
Some  of  them  are  from  friends  long  since  passed  from 
us,  but  whose  names  were  well  known  to  every 
lover  of  the  chase  throughout  the  South  in  "the  days  before 
the  war."  Their  reputations  live  after  them  and  are  honored 
by  many  of  to-day.  T  would  be  glad  to  furnish  more  of 
these  letters  from  such  famous  hunters,  especially  those  of  Mr. 
Birdsong,  Or.  Henry  and  Colonel  Ward,  bait  my  space  will  not 
admit.  Some  of  these  letters  will  prove  interesting  reading. 
They  are  instructive  and  full  of  history  and  especially  so  to 
the  younger  sportsmen,  who  are  interested  in  the  red  fox  and 
,:he  red-fox  hound: 

Dryfobk,  Ky.,  August  1,  1805. 

H.  C.  Trigg, 

Yours  of  the  28th  ult.  received  with  check  for  fifty  dollars 
in  full  payment  of  the  hound  "Rattler/'  better  known  as 
"Dick's  Dog."  I  would  not  have  parted  with  this  dog  had  I 
not  been  worried  so  much  by  parties  sending  bitches  to  be 
bred  io  him.  1  consider  him  to  be  the  best  foxhound  1  ever 
owned,  and  he  is  so  considered  by  every  fox  hunter  that  has 
seen  him  in  the  field.  He  is  a  better  ranger,  trailer,  and 
possesses  greater  speed  than  his  sire,  -Tim  Sibbins,  that  you 
sent  to  Texas.  All  of  his  puppies  have  proved  to  be  fine  dogs. 
He  is  now  about  eight  years  old.     Tis  needless  for  me  to  say 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 


anything  about  his  breeding;  yon  know  his  pedigree  better 
than  1  do.  Yours  truly, 

Dick  Smith. 


QuiNCY,  Fla., 15,  1867. 

//.  C.  Trigg,  Glasgow,  Ky., 

Dear  Sir  :  Yours  of  the  9th  inst.  to  hand,  and  I  reply  at 
once.  I  have  had  a  stroke  of  paralysis  which  incapacitates 
me  for  writing,  being  compelled  to  use  my  left  hand.  I  con- 
sider my  dogs  without  a  peer.  They  have  been  bred  with  as 
much  scrupulousness  and  exactness  as  the  race  horse  of  Eng- 
land. Y^onr  Birdsong  dog  is  the  dog.  I  am  the  originator  of 
them.  First  bred  them  in  Virginia  twenty-four  years  ago, 
from  pure  parent  stock  and 'a  judicious  system  afterwards  of 
selecting  and  crossing  until  I  am  of  the  opinion  they  are 
nearly  perfection.  1  huuted  them  in  Virginia  two  years, 
against  all  comers  and  never  found  the  first  dog  that  coulo} 
live  with  them  in  a  red  fox  chase  and  come  out  alive.  The 
same  thing  can  be  said  by  Mr.  Birdsong,  to  whom  I  gave  the 
pack  twenty-one  years  ago.  T  see  from  the  last  "Turf,  Field 
and  Farm"  that  at  the  great  match  race  at  Oil  Springs,  held 
in  November  last,  that  "the  celebrated  Birdsong  dogs  owned 
by  Mr.  H.  C.  Trigg,  of  Glasgow,  Kentucky,  exhibited  game 
and  speed."  That  coming  from  a  Madison  man  is  a  compli- 
ment. There  are  no  fox  hounds  anywhere  to  be  found  can 
?peed  or  stay  with  these  dogs.  Should  I  ever  visit  Kentucky 
[  shall  certainly  accept  your  invitation  and  call  and  see  you. 

Respectfully  yours, 

T.  Y.  Henry. 


Thomaston,  Ga..  April  23,  1867. 
//.  C.  Trigg,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir  :  Yours  of  the  8th  inst.  duly  received  and  I  avail 
myself  of  the  earliest  opportunity  of  replying.  I  have  se- 
lected two  of  the  oldest  puppies  for  you  and1  can  send  you  a 


40  THE  AMERICAN   FOX -HOUND. 

very  superior  young  dog  three  years  old  for  $100.  He  is 
throughbred  of  my  full  stock,  well  broke  and  reliable..  A  good 
strike  dog,  has  a  good  nose  and  is  very  rapid  and  superior 
trailer,  distinguished  for  taking  off  a  track  when  lost.  His 
speed  among  my  dogs  is  only  mod  in m,  though  when  running 
on  a  moderately  high  scent  it  takes  a  very  fast  dog  to  lead 
him.  He  seems  to  run  as  fast  by  scent  as  by  sight.  He  is  a  dog  of 
great  bottom  and  endurance,  a  dog  of  never-tiring  energy  and 
perseverance,  indeed  he  has  too  much  in  him.  His  mouth  on 
a  trail  is  tolerably  good  and  he  uses  it  free  enough.  When 
he  first  stents  he  will  whimper  and  squeal  a  few  times;  after 
this  his  mouth  is  full  and  tolerably  coarse.  When  running  at 
full  speed  his  mouth  is  a  clear,  loud,  long  shrill  note.  He  is 
a  tall,  lean  raw-boned  dog,  and  very  poor  at  this  time,  so  much 
so  I  dislike  to  send  him  to  you.  His  health  is  good,  but  he  is 
such  a  restless,  inveterate  hunter  that  I  can  not  keep  him  in 
condition  on  the  scant  allowance  I  am  compelled  to  mete  out 
to  my  dogs  during  the  summer  months  in  these  times  of  fam- 
ine. He  goes  to  the  hunting  ground  by  himself  about  twice  a 
week  and  runs  an  old  red  fox  to  his  burrow.  I  have  given  you  a 
fair  description  of  the  dog,  George.  You  will  find  him  as  rep- 
resented. If  you  want  him  send  me  check  on  New  York  for 
the  whole  amount,  $150. 

My  dogs  are  thoroughbred  fox-hounds  and  pursue  the  fox 
as  instinctively  as  a  pointer  will  sit  or  pause  at  the  scent  of 
his  first  bird.  You  will  find  the  puppies  I  send  you  to  be  well 
broke  and  reliable  on  the  first  drag  of  a  red  fox  that  they 
scent.  If  they  do  not  take  the  first  drag  or  if  they  quit  it  to 
pursue  any  other  kind  of  game  I  will  refund  the  money  you 
paid  for  them.  Since  you  have  sent  me  an  order  for  them  I 
feel  free  to  say  more  in  their  praise  than  I  should  have  done. 
I  never  have  to  break  my  dogs.  All  that  is  necessary  is  to 
take  them  out  early  on  the  ground  where  foxes  are.  They 
will  soon  know  all  about  the  habits  of  the  fox.  My  dogs  pre- 
fer the  scent  of  the  red  fox  to  that  of  any  other  game,  and  a 
r'ew  of  them  become  verv  indifferent  to  a  i»rav  fox  after  run 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  41 


uing  a  red.  I  prefer  to  let  my  young  dogs  run  rabbits  about 
the  farm  until  they  are  two  years  old  before  entering  them 
for  a  red  fox.  They  take  to  it  just  as  readily,  and  they  last 
much  longer  by  it.  I  could  send  you  some  dogs,  crosses  on 
my  stock  belonging  to  my  friends,  for  from  twenty-five  to 
fifty  dollars,  but  they  are  aged  and  second  rate.  I  could  not 
recommend  them  as  red  fox  dogs,  but  are  good  gray  fox  dogs. 
You  will  find  that  the  gray  fox  will  disappear  after  a  while 
when  the  reds  establish  themselves  firmly,  and  you  had  better 
•prepare  in  time  for  them.  To  become  a  successful  red  fox 
hunter  you  must  divest  yourself  of  all  old-time  prejudices. 
Hunting  red  foxes  and  catching  red  foxes  are  two  things. 
Any  one  can  hunt  them.  You  can't  sit  with  your  leg  over  the 
pommel  of  your  saddle  and  hear  your  dogs  run!  in  a  briar 
thicket  for  an  half  hour,  and  the  pack  that  dwells  upon  the 
drag  or  goes  back  to  take  a  second  scent  to  assure  themselves 
that  the  game  is  about  will  never  be  again  so  near  a  red  fox 
as  they  were  at  the  start. 

The  red  fox  is  a  very  wild,  cowardly  animal.  He  trusts  noth- 
ing to  cunning,  but  everything  to  heels.  He  will  get  up  as  far 
ahead  of  the  hounds  as  possible  and  continue  to  distance  his 
pursuers  until  he  gets  far  enough  ahead  to  maintain  his  ad- 
vantage at  his  natural  gait,  which  is  a  long  leap.  If  permit- 
ted to  pursue  his  own  gait,  the  d—  — 1  couldn't  catch  him,  for 
he  can  run  a  week.  To  overcome  all  the  advantage  in  favor 
always  of  the  pursued,  you  must  have  dogs  that  will  push 
ahead  on  a  faint  scent,  and  make  quick  and  rapid  casts  ahead 
on  the  line  of  chase  and  speed  enough,  with  a  good  high  scent, 
to  push  the  fox  to  his  utmost  rate  of  speed,  and  then  if  your 
hounds  have  got  the  bottom  and  endurance  to  keep  him  up 
to  his  rate  he  is  bound  to  strike  his  flag  to  them  in  from  sixty 
minutes  to  two  hours.  When  you  have  got  speed  it  becomes 
then  a  question  of  endurance;  without  speed  the  test  can  not 
be  applied.  I  have  never  seen  one  of  the  old-fashioned  stag 
hounds  with  their  deep,  mellow,  long-toned  mouths  that  had 
speed  to  cope  with  the  red  fox,  and  I  have  learned  to  love 


42  THE  AM  ERIC  AX  FOX-HOUND. 

the  short  chops  of  the  more  speedy  foxhounds.  It  sounds 
like  success,  ands  I  had  rather  glimpse  a  flying  pack  at  break- 
neck speed  than  to  sit  half  a  day  and  listen  to  the  slow  droll- 
ing notes  of  a  slow  pack. 

The  pleasure  of  the  chase  is  not  in  the  pursuit  with  me;  'tis 
the  catch  at  the  finale  that  overflows  my  cup.  Having  suc- 
cessfully pursued  red  foxes  for  the  last  twenty  years,  I  ven- 
ture these  remarks  to  you.  Commencing  life  with  a  shattered 
and  feeble  constitution,  I  feel  indebted  to  fox  hunting  for  a 
long  lease  on  life,  and  hope  it  may  be  the  means  of  restoring 
you  to  health. 

Hoping  to  hear  from  you  soon,  I  am 

Very  respectfully, 

G.  L.  F.  Birdsong. 

P.  S.  I  enclose  a  letter  to  show  you  how  my  dogs  are  prized 
here.  I  sold  Longstreet  for  |200  in  a  lot  of  others.  After  he 
was  sold,  Dr.  Sterling,  of  La  grange,  wrote  to  buy  him.  I 
wrote  to  Mr.  Ward  he  could  sell  Longstreet  at  a  profit  and 
here  you  have  his  laconic  reply,  Yours,  etc., 

G.  L.  F.  B. 


Cuthbert,  Ga..  March  1,  1807. 
To  G.  L.  F.  Birdsong,  Esq.. 

My  Dear  Friend.     I  send  you  this  evening  $500.     I  hope 
you  will  receive  it. 

Tell  the  gentleman  whom  you  spoke  of  buying  Longstreet 
that  he  will  never  have  money  enough  to  buy  him  from  me. 

Your  friend, 

A.  G.  Ward. 


Thoimaston,  Ga.,  May  20,  1807. 
H.  C.  Trigg,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir  :    On  the  22d  inst.  I  shipped  you  the  three  dogs  per 
express,  George,  Chase  and  Bee,  and  I  hope  they  will  arrive 


THE  AMERICAN  EOX-HOUND.  43 

iii  good  order.  The  dog  is  a  deep  tan  (red),  tall,  lean,  white 
feet  and  short  tail.  The  dog  and  bitch  pups  are  both  tans 
(reds),  brother  and  sister.  All  four  feet  white  and  a  few  white 
hairs  in  end  of  tail.  .  .  .  Tt  is  very  seldom  you  can 
find  a  very  fleet  dog  on  the  market,  and  as  that  quality  is 
most  highly  prized  they  always  command  very  high  figures, 
say  from  $150  to  #200.  I  wrote  you  of  a  chance  to  obtain  one 
or  two  very  fleet  dogs,  and  if  you  desire  I  will  purchase  for 
you.  Yours,  etc. 

G.  L.  F.  Birdsong. 


Thomaston,  Ga.,  June  10,  1867. 
H.  C.  Trigg,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir  :  Yours  of  the  28th  of  May  came  to  hand  on  the 
3d  inst,  and  I  hasten  to  reply.  I  am  truly  sorry  the  dogs 
did  not  come  up  to  your  expectations.  1  endeavored  to  prepare 
your  mind  for  their  condition.  Dogs  necessarily  fare  badly 
in  a  country  where  famine  stalks  abroad  in  daylight,  and  it 
5s  strange  that  thousands  of  worthless  curs  are  not  destroyed 
by  their  owners.  A  great  many  dogs  actually  perished  to 
death  last  summer  and  it  is  incredible  how  long  they  can  en- 
dure hunger  and  starvation.  I  know  of  one  pack  of  hounds 
<that  subsisted  entirely  on  roasting  ears  and  watermelons  as 
they  gathered  them  from  the  stalks  and  vines. 

I  have  written  to  secure  the  dog  Forest  for  you,  but  I  very 
much  fear  he  can  not  be  bought  singly  at  any  price.  If  I  can 
get  Forest  for  $100  I  will  let  you  have  one  of  my  finest  bitches 
for  $100,  or  the  two  for  |200,  as  you  proposed.  I  did  not 
think  I  would  part  with  this  bitch,  Fannie,  but  as  you  are 
somewhat  disappointed  with  those  sent  you,  and  as  you  feel 
you  are  paying  a  high  price  for  dogs  and  much  more  than  your 
friends  are  paying  for  fine  dogs,  I  am  determined  you  shall 
have  the  very  best  specimens  of  my  stock,  and  if  they  do  not 
sustain  themselves  and  their  reputation  in  a  contest  with  the 
Tennessee  dogs  it  will  be  the  first  time  they  ever  failed  to  do  it. 

The  bitch,  Fannie,  is  three  years  old,  medium  in  size,  a 


44  TEE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

perfect  model  of  symmetry  and  beauty.  She  is  well  worth  $200 
to  any  man  fond  of  fine  fox-hounds,  and  you  will  not  take 
that  for  her  after  you  get  her  in  your  possession.  She  has 
been  in  Jasper  county  where  I  have  been  breeding  her.  I  en- 
close letter  from  Mr.  Robinson,  who  bred  her  for  me  on  shares. 
He  hunted  her  last  winter  with  his  dogs.  You  must  admit 
that  the  performance  of  his  dogs  are  good  enough.  He  hunts 
with  a  small  pack,  only  seven  dogs,  and  he  caught  with  them 
above  ground,  fairly  and  squarely,  twenty  red  foxes  and  two 
gray  foxes.  His  dogs  were  sired  by  Boston,  the  maternal 
half  brother  of  Fannie.  I  sold  him  when  fourteen  months 
old  for  $150.  Very  respectfully, 

Geo.  L.  F.  Birdsong. 

June  28,   1867. 
Mr.  G.  L.  F.  Birdsong, 

I  received  your  note  by  your  son,  Henry.  You  state  you 
have  sold  Fannie  and  your  son  tells  me  it  is  to  a  gentleman 
in  Kentucky.  1  am  sorry  to  learn  that  Fannie  is  going  to 
leave  the  country,  as  I  consider  her  one  of  the  best  bitches  in 
the  State.  In  other  words,  I  do  not  believe  there  is  a  better 
dog  living  than  Fannie.  She  has  all  the  qualities  that  consti- 
tute a  No.  1  red  fox  dog,  both  in  regard  to  trailing  and  run- 
ning. Some  may  perhaps  be  a  little  faster  than  Fannie  when 
the  fox  first  gets  up,  but  after  running  one  hour  no  dog  can 
excel  her.  I  regret  not  getting  some  pups  from  her,  as  she 
has  not  been  to  a  dog  since  I  carried  her  to  July  nearly  a 
year  ago. 

We  caught  last  season  twenty  red  foxes,  and  caught  them 
all  in  good  time,  from  one  to  three  hours,  and  Fannie  was  at 
the  catching  of  all  of  them  and  sustained  herself  well.  She 
has  made  for  herself  in  this  county  a  character  as  a  red  fox 
dog  that  none  can  excel.  I  would  like  for  you  to  give  her  a 
race  or  two  before  yon  send  her  off,  just  to  see  how  she  does 
perform  after  a  red  fox,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  be  pleased 


THE  AMERICAN   FOX-HOUND.  45 


with  her.     I  will  write  before  long  and  give  you  the  particu- 
lars in  regard  ro  our  races  last  season. 

Very  respectfully, 

John  L.  Robinson. 
Newton  County.  Ga. 


Thomaston,  Ga.,  June  30,  1867. 
H.  C.  Trigg,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  only  time  to  say  that  I  secured  you  two 
fine  dogs  and  will  ship  them  to  yon  on  the  4th  of  July,  with- 
out fail.  Wiill  Avrite  you  particulars  when  I  ship  them. 
Bill  $200,  which  you  can  send  me  in  greenbacks  by  express,  or 
check  as  before.  Yours  truly, 

G.  L.  F.  Birdsong. 


Thomaston,  Ga.,  July  3,  1867. 
11.  C.  Trigg,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir:  After  writing  you  a  few  days  since  that  I  had 
bought  two  dogs  for  you,  Dora  and  Wheeler,  I  sent  up  after 
them  to  ship  you,  and  enclosed  you  will  find  a  note  from  Mr. 
Bradley  explaining  why  the  dogs  wore  not  shipped.  He 
backed  squarely  out  of  it,  and  you  see  some  of  the  difficulties 
in  getting  my  trained  dogs  oven  at  high  figures.  I  have  to- 
day bought  a  fine  dog,  Rip,  that  is  all  right.  No  fault  except 
age;  ho  is  live  or  six  years  old.  T  ran  him  in  his  first  season 
in  my  pack  when  he  was  about  a  year  old  and  he  sustained 
himself  well  with  Longstreet;  was  about  the  same  age,  prob- 
ably a  little  older.  1  have  now  nothing  left  but  to  send  you 
Fanny.  Mr.  Robinson  was  loth  to  give  her  up  and  offered  to 
buy  her  himself.  He  says  she  is  the  best  bitch  for  red  foxes 
in  the  State.  He  caught  twenty  last  winter  and  Fanny  was 
at  the  death  of  them  all.  Tf  you  want  the  dog  Broxton  send 
me  one  hundred  dollars  and  I  will  buy  him  for  you  and  ship  him 
to  you  The  price  of  Fanny  and  Rip  is  two  hundred  dollars, 
which  you  can  send  me.     The  young  dog,  Lee,  I  present  to 


46  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

you.  He  ran  last  winter  a  very  hard  race,  after  a  red  fox, 
after  which  he  became  lame  in  his  right  hind  leg.  I  think  he 
has  fully  recovered  and  will  make  you  a  fine  dog. 

Very  respectfully. 

Geo.  L.  F.  Birdsong. 


Thom aston,  Ga.,  August  2(3,   1867. 
H,  C.  Tri(;(j,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir:  Your  letters  of  the  12th  and  IGth  inst.  came  to 
hand  yesterday  and  I  hasten  to  reply,  and  will  try  to  post 
this  letter  tomorrow  so  that  it  will  reach  you  with  all  possi- 
ble dispatch.  I  enclose  you  a  letter  from  Mr.  Ward,  of  Green 
county.  You  will  see  I  have  prevailed  upon  him  to  let  you 
have  Forest.  He  is  out  of  a  bitch  I  bred  and  sold  to  Mr. 
Ward  and  is  all  right  in  pedigree,  and  not  too  nearly  related 
to  Fanny.  You  can  s«*e  what  Mr.  Ward  says  of  him.  Mr. 
Ward  is  a  high-minded  Southern  gentleman.  He  never  boasts 
of  dogs  or  speaks  of  them  in  superlative  terms;  what  he  says 
of  Forest  is  as  much  praise  as  he  ever  bestows  on  his  dogs. 
The  bitch  Echo  to  win  mi  lie  refers  is  now  in  my  kennel.  Mr. 
Ward  tested  her  fully  with  Forest,  and  I  have  tested  her 
with  Longstreet,  and  I  can  say  that  if  Forest  can  be  truth- 
fully compared  to  her,  that  he  is  fast  enough  and  good  enough 
lor  any  purpose.  She  is  one  of  the  few  dogs  I  believe  able  to 
kill  a  red  fox  by  herself  in  from  one  to  two  hours.  Longstreet 
lias  done  it  several  times  in  less  time  than  that.  I  shall 
breed  Echo  to  July  when  in  season  which  is  close  at  hand,  as 
she  whelped  last  December,  and  if  you  wish  will  try  and  let 
you  have  a  pair  of  (lie  puppies  as  a  special  favor,  though  I 
have  engaged  more  of  .July's  pups  than  1  can  supply  this  sea- 
son. I  have  a  litter  of  live  from  July  and  Springfield  now  a 
week  old,  but  I  think  1  shall  keep  them.  If  you  want  the 
dog  Forest  you  had  bet  lei-  write  or  telegraph  Mr.  Ward  im- 
mediately. You  had  better  order  direct  as  it  will  cost  me 
twenty-five  dollars  to  scud  overland  one  hundred  miles  to  get 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  47 


him  for  you.  There  is  no  chance  to  get  Wheeler  from  Mr. 
Bradley  upon  any  terms.  He  and  Mr.  Gorman,  of  the  adjoin- 
ing- county,  are  very  intimate,  and  if  anybody  gets  Wheeler 
it  will  be  Mr.  Gorman.  The  red  fox  came  within  twelve  miles 
of  hi  in  and  he  caught  four  of  them.  This  winter  they  will  be 
nearer.  Rip  is  a  cross  of  the  blue  speckled  hound  common 
to  this  country  thirty  years  ago.  He  is  the  third  gener- 
ation from  the  cross.  I  think  you  did  right  to  stint  Bee. 
I  always  adopt  that  plan  with  young  bitches  unless  un- 
der some  urgent  necessity.  The  best  plan  is  to  hunt  the 
bitches:  you  can  then  see  their  defects  and  their  good 
points,  and  correct  the  one  and  perfect  the  other  by  a  judi- 
cious selection  of  a  dog.  Education  and  habits  are  to  a  certain 
extent  transmitted  to  the  offspring,  especially  by  the  female, 
and  the  imagination  exerts  some  influence  during  the  period 
of  gestation,  therefore,  I  prefer  to  hunt  the  bitches  during 
the  early  period  of  pregnancy.  There  is  but  little  risk  to  run 
from  accident  as  their  muscles  during  this  period  become  soft 
and  they  are  incapable  of  making  great  exertions.  I  have 
known  several  instances  of  their  being  delivered  at  the  natu- 
ral time  during  a  fox  chase. 

Very  respectfully, 

Geo.  L.  F.  Birdsong. 


lJHj 


Thomaston,  July  30,  18(17. 
H.  C.  Trigg,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir:  Yours  of  the  15th  and  lfith  inst.  duly  received 
and  would  have  been  answered  sooner  but  for  my  indisposi- 
tion. My  health  continues  feeble  and  am  becoming,  in  con- 
sequence, desponding.  Two  years  from  now  the  Birdsong 
dogs  will  be  in  great  demand  in  your  State.  It  has  always 
been  so  wherever  I  have  sent  them,  and  it  is  bound  to  be  so 
with  you.  They  can  catch  red  foxes,  and  I  can  send  you  a 
pack  of  letters  attesting  that  fact  and  dating  back  from  1854 
to  the  present  time,  but  you  have  better  evidence  before  you. 


48  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 


You  have  the  dogs  that  have  done  it,  and  can  do  the  trick 
again  as  well  in  Kentucky  as  in  Georgia. 

As  to  my  mode  of  hunting,  I  do  not  take  my  dogs  to  the 
field  coupled;  sometimes  T  go  eight  or  ten  miles  to  the  hunt- 
ing grounds  of  a  morning.  I  am  too  old  now  to  stand  so 
much  work  and  prefer  to  be  much  nearer.  My  dogs  run 
loose  and  when  acquainted  with  the  ground  go  ahead  and 
frequently  have  the  fox  running  when  I  get  there.  We  trail 
up  our  foxes  fairly,  and  this  is  the  style  in  all  the  Southern 
States  where  fox  hunting  is  carried  on  for  sport.  I  never 
halloo  to  or  encourage  my  dogs  till  the  fox  is  unkenneled, 
and  then  only  at  certain  times  when  a  halloo  is  irresistible. 
I  am  a  very  still,  quiet  hunter,  and  you  must  be  so,  too,  if  you 
want  to  be  successful  in  catching  red  foxes.  They  are  very 
wild  and  steal  off  from  their  kennel  before  a  noisy  hunter  is 
within  a  half  a  mile  of  them.  If  your  dogs  are  well  bred 
they  will  need  no  encouragement.  Never  halloo  when  you 
see  the  fox  and  your  dogs  are  running  or  coming  to  you,  it 
will  distract  their  attention  and  take  them  off  of  their  nose, 
and  will  probably  cause  them  to  lose  or  at  least  be  at  fault 
for  awhile.  Sit  still  and  let  them  pass,  and  then  if  they  seem 
tired  and  you  think  encouragement  is  needed  or  if  you  can't 
help  it,  give  a  few  short  screams  and  ride  beside  them  a  little 
way.  or  all  the  time  if  you  can.  When  dogs  are  some  dis- 
tance from  you,  say  half  a  mile  or  more,  it  does  them  no 
good  to  halloo  to  them  -they  don't  hear  you,  but  the  fox 
does  and  quickens  his  pace.  When  the  dogs  are  running  off 
I  sometimes  halloo  a  peculiar  way  to  inform  other  hunters 
which  way  the  dogs  are  going.  We  signal  on  the  horn  to 
each  other,  and  T  train  my  dogs  to  a  certain  signal  when  I  see 
a  fox  and  want  to  get  them  close  after  him.  When  you  first 
unkennel  and  part  of  the  dogs  are  about  to  get  off,  you  must 
halloo  to  get  the  pack  together,  but  never  halloo  unless  you 
have  an  object  in  it.  My  dogs  never  quit  a  fox  as  long  as 
they  can  smell  him.  Don't  hunt  with  a  large  pack  of  strange 
dogs  in  expectation  of  much  s»port.     From  seven  to  ten  dogs 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  49 


is  enough  to  kill  a  red  fox.  Hunt  them  together  after  gray 
foxes  and  rabbits  until  they  get  well  acquainted  with  each 
other.  Let  them  know  each  other  "clean  through  and 
through;"  have  them  about  the  same  speed.  Feed  high  and 
exercise  well.  Select  a  good,  damp,  foggy  morning  in  October 
or  November  and  be  on  the  ground  by  daylight  (if  the  fox  is 
wild  and  steals  away  before  the  dogs  'tis  best  to  be  on  the 
ground  before  day)  ;  put  your  dogs  as  close  to  the  fox  as  pos- 
sible and  be  quiet.  If  you  are  acquainted  with  the  country 
keep  with  your  dogs  if  possible. 

A  red  fox  is  like  a  deer  and  has  a  certain  line  of  country 
to  run  over.  One  word  as  to  foxes.  Every  hunter  who  fails 
to  catch  a  fox  thinks  that  fox  the  toughest  one  out.  I  wish 
you  could  see  my  file  of  letters  from  huntsmen  from  different 
sections  of  this  and  the  adjoining  States,  inviting  me  to  come 
and  catch  one  of  their  red  foxes.  They  all  think  my  foxes 
not  so  good  as  theirs.  I  go,  and  have  never  yet  found  any 
difference.  They  don't  stand  before  me  any  longer  than  those 
I  encounter  here. 

I  Avrote  a  history  of  the  red  fox  of  America,  which  was 
published  in  the  "Countryman"  1764.  They  were  imported 
from  England  by  one  of  the  old  English  Governors  of  New 
York  and  turned  loose  on  Long  Island  during  a  severe  winter 
and  they  crossed  over  on  the  ice  to  the  main  land,  and  have 
steadily  migrated  southwesterly  along  and  parallel  to  the 
great  mountain  range  of  the  Middle  States.  Their  progress 
can  be  easily  traced  all  along.  In  1840,  when  I  got  my  dogs 
from  Virginia  and  Maryland,  there  were  no  red  foxes  west  of 
the  Conee  river,  Georgia.  They  had  migrated  to  the  eastern 
banks  of  that  stream.  Since  then  they  have  crossed  that 
stream  and  occupy  the  country  between  that  stream  and  the 
Ocmulgee.  Finding  in  1840  that  the  gray  foxes  were  too 
slow  for  my  dogs,  I  sent  an  order  to  Porter  of  the  "Spirit 
of  the  'Times"  for  a  pair  of  red  foxes  and  you  will  see  his 
reply  to  G.  L.  F.  B.  in  the  enclosed  slip,  "To  Correspondent." 
The  first  pair  the  dog  fox  was  caught  on  Long  Island  the 


50  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 


Vixen  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  she  stood  up  six  and  a 
half  hours  in  a  soft,  heavy  snow  before  she  burrowed. 

From  these  sprung  a  numerous  progeny  that  is  now  ex- 
tended from  the  Flint  river  west  to  the  Chattahoochee.  There 
is  but  little  difference  between  these  New  York  foxes  and 
those  that  have  migrated  from  the  East.  There  are  two 
varieties  here.  One  a  small,  deep  red,  pony-built  fox,  very 
little  white  on  the  tail;  the  other  a  light  yellow,  several  inches 
of  the  tail  being  while,  sometimes  a  little  Avhite  on  the  toes, 
long,  tall,  and  very  wild.  I  think  these  foxes  as  stout  as  any 
and  they  are  certainly  in  the  worst  country  for  dogs  to  run 
over  I  ever  saw.  If  T  had  money,  as  "I  used  to,"  before 
this  "cruel  war,"  I  would  mount  the  train,  with  three  or  four 
couples  of  my  dogs  and  would  be  at  that  big  hunt  on  the  16th 
of  October.  I  would  then  and  there  see  "what  is  what." 
If  you  will  come  down  this  fall  with  five  or  six  good 
ones  T  will  meet  you  and  you  will  receive  true  Southern  wel- 
come and  hospitality,  and  be  at  no  expense  after  landing. 
Were  we  able  Ave  would  send  you  a  free  ticket  through,  "bag 
and  baggage." 

Thanks  to  Providence,  though  we  be  disfranchised,  we  will 
have  a  bountiful  crop  this  fall.  I  rejoice  that  my  poor  dogs 
will  soon  be  fed  without  stint. 

If  you  will  refer  to  Turf,  Field  and  Farm,  one  of  the 
June  numbers,  you  will  see  a  communication  headed  "Fox- 
Hounds  and  Fox  Hunting,"  In  Tally  Ho.  He  speaks  of  the 
Irish  dogs  as  being  the  best  red  fox  dogs  in  Maryland  or  Vir- 
ginia.    The  dogs  I  send  you  are  descended  from  these. 

As  ever  yours,  etc., 

Geo.  L.  F.  Birdsoxo. 


Thomastox,  Oa.,  Sept.  3,  18G0. 
Mr.  H.  C.  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir:  Your  favor  of  August  2M  at  hand,  and  I  re- 
gret to  announce  the  death  of  father,  he  having  died  August 
18th,   after   a   confinement   of   seven   weeks.       He  died   with 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  53 

consumption.  Also  regret  to  hear  you  have  lost  Delta  and 
Lightfoot,  but  you  ought  to  be  able  to  catch  red  foxes  with 
your  pack  this  fall.  Would  like  so  much  to  see  them  run. 
Madcap  is  dead,  old  July  is  doing  well,  Echo  is  with  pup  by 
July  also  four  others,  so  we  can  not  have  any  sport  before 
December.  July  is  getting  too  old  to  run,  only  fit  for  breed- 
ing purposes.  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  think  so  much  of  Chase; 
we  have  his  brother  and  he  is  hard  to  outrun.  I  think  your 
two  pups  from  King  and  Delta  will  not  prove  anything  extra, 
judging  from  what  I  have  heard  of  Mr.  Waddy's  dog,  King, 
but  hope  they  may  prove  extra.  You  have  no  pups  from 
Delta  and  Lightfoot,  have  you?  That  was  my  choice  to  breed 
from.  I  will  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  occasionally  and  the 
performance  of  your  pack  this  fall. 

As  ever  your  friend, 

Geo.  P.  Birdsong. 

Being  called  on  by  my  friend,  neighbor  and  fellow  hunts- 
man John  S.  Jackson,  for  the  pedigree  of  his  fast  running 
dog  Jane  whose  fieetness  I  am  well  acquainted  with  (as  well 
as  many  others).  Jane  was  sired  by  my  dog  July  about 
the  year  1801.  T  brought  July  from  Maryland.  His  sire  was 
imported  from  Ireland,  and  known  as  the  "Irish  Bed  Fox- 
hound." ....  I  have  been  a  constant  fox  hunter  for 
the  last  forty  years  and  have  tried  all  kinds  of  dogs,  but  could 
aever  catch  more  than  one  fox  out  of  every  ten  chases  until 
I  introduced  the  Irish  dogs.  Since  then  I  catch  at  least 
seven  out  of  every  ten.  Believing  the  Irish  stock  to  be  the 
finest  in  the  world  I  do  hereby  subscribe  myself 

Miles  G.  Harris. 

July  22,  1868. 

Green  County,  Ga.,  Oct.  3,  1867. 
Dear  Sir:     Your  favor  of  the  17th  ult.  has  been  received. 
Also   received   by   express   $100   for   Forest.       Please   accept 
my  thanks  for  the  prompt  remittance.    Forest  is  out  of  Beel, 


54  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

a  slut  presented  to  me  by  Mr.  Birdsong  when  a  pup.  She 
was  one-half  or  three-quarters  Irish,  with,  I  think,  a  cross  upon 
the  Maryland  dogs  introduced  by  him  into  this  State.  His 
sire,  Boston,  was  out  of  a  half  Irish  slut;  grandsire  Willis, 
was  from  a  Virginia  dog  and  slut.  Boston  is  still  living,  and 
has  been  a  remarkable  foxhound.  Willis  was  also  a  very  su- 
perior dog.  Reel  and  Boston's  mother  were  excellent  dogs. 
Forest  has  a  sister  in  this  county  of  the  same  age  of  himself 
that  is  prized  very  highly  by  her  owner,  he  having  refused 
$100  for  her  last  winter.  Forest  is  yours  now,  and  if  you 
will  recruit  and  manage  him  properly  he  will  prove  what 
I  believe  him  to  be,  one  of  the  finest  red  fox-hounds  I  ever 
knew. 

I  notice  in  the  Turf,  Field  and  Farm  that  you  have  spir- 
ited fox  hunters  in  Madison  and  other  counties  in  your  State. 
Would  it  be  inconvenient  for  you  to  enter  Forest  for  the  horn 
they  propose  to  be  run  for  in  November?  I  have  thought 
that  Forest  acquitted  himself  better  with  a  strange  pack  than 
when  running  with  my  own  as  though  he  considered  the  honor 
greater  to  beat  them.  It  would  afford  me  much  pleasure  to 
know  he  had  Avon  for  his  spirited  owner  so  fine  a  trophy  as 
the  champion  horn  of  Kentucky. 

Very  respectfully, 

R.  H.  Ward. 

P.  S. — The  name  of  Boston's  mother  I  can't  recall  just 
now.  She  belonged  to  a  neighbor  and  was  of  Irish  and  Red- 
bone  stock.     I  gave  her  to  him  when  a  pup. 


Green  County,  Ga.,  June  16,  18(38. 
FT.  C.  Trigg,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir:  Your  favor  was  received  a  few  days  since.  I 
have  felt  disappointed  at  you  not  writing  to  me  earlier,  espec- 
ially at  your  nol  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  puppy  sent 
you.  In  regard  to  Echo,  my  nephew  has  sold  her  to  a  gentle- 
man living  near  Mr.  Birdsong  for  $150,  and  I  rather  suspect 
for  Mr.    B.   himself.      She    is    a    very    superior  hound.     You 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  55 

have  Lightfoot  her  full  brother;  take  care  of  him  for  I  con- 
sider him  an  excellent  dog  and  there  is  no  better  stock  in 
Georgia.  He  resembles  his  sire  more  than  any  of  his  get  1 
have  ever  seen.  Their  sire  July  was  procured  from  Gosnell, 
of  Maryland.  They  had  many  good  qualities  and  among 
them  this,  that  after  running  an  hour  or  two  or  longer  they 
are  as  quick  and  press  forward  with  as  much  eagerness  as  in 
the  outset.     Mr.  Birdsong's  Irish  were  remarkable  dogs. 

Very  respectfully, 

R.  H.  Ward. 


Green  County,  Gav  Sept.  7,  1868. 
H    C.  Trigg. 

Dear  Sir:  T  will  in  a  day  or  two  ship  by  express  to  you 
three  hounds,  Hampton,  Rose,  and  Emma  Sampson,  the  lat- 
ter named  for  the  girl  that  piloted  General  Forrest  across  the 
river  when  in  pursuit  of  the  Federals.  If  Hampton  had  the 
loins  of  Forest  he  would  be  perfect  in  form.  Please  take 
good  care  of  him  and  not  allow  him  to  serve  many  sluts,  as 
excessive  service  is  very  injurious,  one  coition  being  quite 
enough.  I  never  bred  a  dog  that  I  thought  so  much  of.  He 
is  a  natural  fox-hound. 

Rose  is  one  year  older  than  Hampton,  full  sister  to  Echo 
and  Lightfoot  (by  July),  and  is  highly  prized  by  Captain 
Brown.  You  will  be  pleased  with  her.  Emma  is  a  full  sis- 
ter to  Hampton  and  possesses  more  speed  than  either  Hamp- 
ton or  Rose.  All  three  are  from  my  old  Flora.  I  should  be 
glad  to  get  a  pair  of  puppies  from  Hampton  and  the  slut  Gen- 
eral Maupin  gave  you. 

Very  respectfully  your  friend, 

R.  H.  Ward. 

P.  S. — Rose  is  black,  the  other  two  red. 


56  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

Green   County,  Ga.,  Oct.  21,   1868. 
H.  C.  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir  :  I  was  very  much  gratified  at  the  flattering  ac- 
count \o\\  gave  of  Forest's  performance  in  your  last  letter. 
Tie  is  the  first  and  only  dog-  1  ever  sold  and  were  my  circum- 
stances such  as  they  were  before  the  war  five  times  the  amount 
you  gave  me  would  not  have  bought  him.  As  it  is  I  am 
perfectly  satisfied,  he  is  now  owned  by  a  gentleman  who  knows 
his  value  as  a  fox  hound  and  fully  appreciates  it.  Now 
as  to  Hampton.  Before  his  injury,  for  a  ten  to  twenty  hour 
chase  1  don't  believe  his  equal  could  be  found.  He  would 
roam  the  fields  like  a  pointer,  performing  twice  the  labor  of 
any  other  dog.  And  it  would  have  required  tendons  of  steel 
to  have  sustained  him.  Rose,  you  will  find  without  making 
much  ado  about  it,  a  steady,  reliable  dog  of  stoutness  and  cour- 
age. Emma  has  speed  and  I  hope  when  she  becomes  famil- 
iar with  your  pack  will  give  you  some  evidence  of  it.  Delta 
I  have  heard  of  before  you  got  her,  as  being  a  very  fine  fox- 
hound of  speed  about  equal  to  her  mother,  Echo.  ...  I 
imagine  that  your  pack  when  in  full  cry,  if  they  do  not  touch 
chords  of  sweetest  sound,  would  at  least  make  such  a  mad- 
dening fuss  at  to  wake  up  the  echoes  of  the  vale  and  pester 
the  lifeless  soul  that  never  knew  the  bewitching  enchantment 
of  sweet  melody. 

1  need  not  tell  you  T  shall  be  glad  to  her  from  you  at 
any  time.  Your  friend, 

R.  H.  Ward. 


Green  County,  Ga.,  Nov.  10,  1868. 
H.  C.  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir:  Your  favor  of  the  4th  hist,  was  received  to- 
day and  T  hasten  to  reply.  Let  me  beg  you  to  entertain  no 
unpleasant  reflections  in  reference  to  Hampton's  death.  It 
was  one  of  those  unavoidable  misfortunes  that  no  precau- 
tion could  have  prevented,  so  don't  allow  it  to  disturb  you  the 
least   in  the  world.       You  ask  me  what  compensation  you 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  57 

shall  give  me  for  him.  Nothing  under  the  sun.  I  should 
consider  myself  unworthy  the  respect  of  an  honorable  hunts- 
man were  I  to  receive  a  single  cent  for  him.  Dismiss  all 
idea  of  compensation.  1  never  intended  selling  Hampton  to 
you.  My  object  in  sending  him  to  you  was  for  you  to  keep 
him  during  this  hunting  season  and  longer  if  you  desired, 
and  then  present  him  to  a  friend  in  Southern  Georgia,  who 
had  honored  me  by  naming  his  son  for  me. 

1  desire  a  pair  of  Rose's  puppies  for  him.  I  fear  you  will 
have  .other  cases  of  hydrophobia  in  your  kennels.  I  should 
very  much  regret  to  learn  that  your  line  pack  had  been 
broken  up  by  it,  especially  as  you  have  incurred  such  heavy 
expense  and  been  at  so  much  trouble  in  collecting  them. 

Your  friend, 

R.  H.  Ward. 

Clay  Village,  Kyv  May  12,  1870. 
Mr.  H.  0.  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  deferred  writing  longer  than  I  intended. 
When  you  sent  Tip  up  I  received  a  letter  from  you  saying 
that  your  young  dogs  had  beaten  mine,  which  was  exactly 
what  1  expected.  T  told  Ford  and  Howell  the  day  we  were 
out  that  if  we  got  a  race  your  dogs  would  beat  us,  but  Howell 
said  until  that  was  done  he  would  not  believe  it.  Perhaps 
you  will  think  it  strange  when  I  say  that  if  my  dogs  proved 
to  be  faster  than  yours  I  would  be  sorry  for  it,  but  neverthe- 
less it  is  so,  because  I  am,  and  have  been  for  years,  looking 
for  dogs  that  could  beat  mine,  and  yours  are  decidedly  the 
fastest  1  have  found. 

T  want  you  to  test  Waxie  thoroughly  with  yours  and  if  he 
proves  to  be  faster  than  yours  we  will  have  to  import  a  pair. 
Out  of  your  next  litter  please  save  me  a  full  brother  to  the 
two  you  had  up  here.  Ford  told  me  while  I  was  speaking  to 
speak  for  him;  he  wants  one.  Venus  lost  her  pups,  and  Jose- 
phine only  had  two,  both  sluts.  If  you  want  one  of  them 
write  me.  Yours  with  respect, 

W.  L.  Waddy. 


58  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 


Clay  Village,  Kyv  Dec.  5,  1870. 
E.  C.  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir  :  I  received  your  very  welcome  letter  of  Nov. 
2i)th  and  read  it  with  interest.  Mr.  Ford  informs  me  he  had 
two  races  since  his  return.  He  says  Forest  (by  your  old 
Forest)  came  to  the  hole  six  hundred  yards  ahead  of  the 
pack.  T  am  now  thoroughly  satisfied  a  cross  with  Forest 
(the  old  dog)  and  Venus,  and  King  and  Delta  bred  together, 
their  produce  can  not  be  beaten  in  the  United  States.  Breed 
Money  to  a  pup  of  Venus  and  Echo  to  Forest,  which  is  just 
the  same  cross.  Have  you  been  fortunate  enough  to  hear 
anything  of  your  lost  dogs?  Remember  me  to  your  amiable 
lady.  Most  respectfully  your  friend, 

W.  L.  Waddy. 


Clay  Village,  Ky.,  July  18,  1S72. 
Friend  Trigg, 

I  have  neglected  writing  to  you  so  long  I  am  ashamed  of 

such  negligence,  but  hope  you  will  pardon  me 

There  is  nothing  in  the  dog  line  I  regret  so  much  as  the  loss 
of  your  old  Forest,  The  litter  of  pups  of  Echo  and  Forest 
I  was  looking  to  as  going  to  be  the  best  litter  of  pups  in  Ken- 
tucky. My  last  hunt  has  satisfied  me  that  Echo  is  worth  all 
the  dogs  I  have.  She  is  running  as  far  ahead  of  my  dogs  as 
ever  King  did.  When  Delta  will  run  she  is  the  only  one  of 
my  dogs  that  can  keep  in  hearing  of  her.  The  pup  you  sent 
me  has  had  the  mange,  but  I  think  will  make  a  great  dog 
when  he  gets  well.  Echo's  pups  by  young  Forest  are  very 
promising.  They  show  great  game  and  speed.  My  respects  to 
your  good  lady. 

W.  L.  Waddy. 

Clay  Village.  Ky.,  June  8th. 
H.  0.  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir  :     I  received  your  letter  a  few  days  ago ;  was  glad 
to  hear  from  you,  which  I  am  at  all  times.     Caught  two  red 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  59 

foxes  on  the  ground  a  few  days  since.  The  ring-necked  pup 
you  sent  me  has  gotten  well  at  last  and  is  running  in  the  lead 
of  the  pack  a  good  part  of  the  time,  etc. 

Yours, 

W.  L.  Waddy. 


Richmond,  Ky.,  April  6,  1869. 
H.  C.  Trigg,  Glasgow,  Ky., 

Dear  Sir:  Your  favor  has  been  duly  received.  In  reply 
to  your  query  about  the  pups  I  gave  you,  I  think  I  may  safely 
assert  that  there  is  not  anywhere  a  better  bred  dog.  Her 
blood  is  unexceptionable.  1  will  now  give  you  her  pedigree 
and  something  of  her  ancestry.  She  was  out  of  my  brother 
Will's  Crickette  and  was  by  Warren  Harris'  Pete  (better  known 
as  Blind  Pete)  ;  Crickette  was  out  of  Maggie  and  was  by 
David  Trvin's  Boston;  Maggie  was  out  of  Joe  Shackelford's 
Vic  and  was  by  Dr.  Jake  White's  Duke;  Shackelford's  Vic 
was  out  of  my  father's  old  Vic  and  was  by  his  English  dog 
Fox:  old  Vic  was  out  of  W.  R.  Fleming's  old  Nan  and  was 
got  by  his  dog  Bascom ;  Nan  and  Bascom  both  came  from 
Maryland  and  were  of  the  purest  stock;  Trvin's  Boston  was 
brought  from  South  Carolina  by  Add  White.  He  was  cer- 
tainly purely  bred,  fast,  and  fine.  He  was  a  splendid  deer 
dog.  Duke  was  out  of  Jake  White's  Queen  and  was  by  his 
dog  Collier:  Queen  was  out  of  J.  M.  White's  Lai,  and  was  by 
old  Rifle  (a  dog  imported  from  England  by  my  father  in  1857, 
very  fine  and  fast)  ;  Lai  was  out  of  Martin  Gentry's  Ellen 
and  was  by  General  Maupin's  famous  dog  Lead;  Ellen  was 
out  of  Gentry;s  Cry  and  by  his  dog  Money  (both  came  from 
Virginia)  ;  Fox  was  out  of  old  Queen  (imported  by  my  father 
from  England  in  1857)  and  was  got  by  Rifle.  He  was  a  full 
brother  to  Jeff  Maupin's  Bragg,  Durrett's  White's  Bally,  and 
others,  amongst  the  best  ever  raised  here  or  elsewhere.  White's 
Collier  was  a  Virginia  dog,  fine,  fast,  and  good.  Maupin's 
Lead  came  from  Governor  Nelson's  in  East  Tennessee,  was 


60  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

very  fast  and  was  regarded  by  General  Maupin  as  the  best 
dog  he  ever  owned. 

Ellen  and  Duke  (her  full  brother)  were  two  of  the  fastest 
dogs  I  ever  saw.  Duke  I  regarded  as  the  best  hunter,  the 
fastest,  and  altogether  the  best  dog  I  ever  saw.  My  father's 
Vie  was  the  fastest  dog  after  a  deer  in  America.  I  believe 
she  was  a  good  fox  dog.  She  was  the  mother  of  Fitz,  Mac, 
Doe,  and  many  other  fast  and  good  ones.  She  was  half  sis- 
ter to  our  old  Florence.  Blind  Pete  was  out  of  Kavanaugh's 
Blonde  and  by  Jeff  Maupin's  Bragg  (full  brother  to  Fox  and 
Bally  and  others)  ;  Blonde  was  out  of  John  Moberley's  old 
red  bitch  and  was  bv  General  Maupin's  Lead  (the  Tennessee 
dog)  ;  Moberley's  bitch  was  out  of  a  very  fine  and  fast  bitch 
brought  here  from  Virginia  and  was  got  by  Jeff  Maupin's  Buck, 
who  also  came  from  Virginia.  Blonde  was  the  mother  of 
Jeff  Maupin's  Drum  the  "Red  Dog,"  (this  was  Kavanaugh's 
dog)  Vete,  and  Upas,  all  the  finest  and  fastest  kind. 

Your  pup  combines  the  blood  of  all  the  finest,  fastest  and 
best  dogs  that  we  ever  had  in  this  country.  T  do  not  see  how 
she  can  be  otherwise  than  good  and  fast.  You  may  hunt  the 
world  over  and  you  will  not  find  a  better  bred  stock  dog.  I 
think  she  will  nick  exactly  with  your  Birdsong  dogs.  Until 
recently  the  boys  have  not  hunted  much  since  General  Mau- 
pin's death.  They  have,  however,  begun  to  revive  the  sport 
again.  Your  friend, 

C.  J.  Walker. 


Louisville.  Ky.,  September  1,  1873. 
H.  C.  Trigg,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir:  Your  favor  of  28th  came  duly  to  hand  and 
about  ten  minutes  after  receiving  it  the  express  wagon  drove 
op  with  the  pups,  for  which  T  am  under  many  obligations. 
They  were  received  in  good  order  and  1  immediately  express- 
ed them  to  Alex  Fible  in  Oldham  county.  I  intended  to  give 
them  to  my  cousin  in  Bullitt  county,  but  Fible  heard  I  was 
going  to  get  them  and  was  so  anxious  to  have  them,  and  as  I 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  61 

go.  up  there  a  great  deal  I  let  him  have  them.  I  like  their 
looks  very  much  and  am  satisfied  they  will  make  good  ones. 
Thanking  you  again  for  the  pups,  I  am  yours  truly, 

C.  B.  Simmons. 
These  puppies  were  by  Chase.  He  by  Longstreet.  They 
were  out  of  Annie,  she  out  of  Rose  and  Rose  was  by  old 
July.  These  puppies  as  dogs  made  a  great  reputation.  Their 
produce  and  descendants  are  owned  to-day  and  highly  prized 
in  the  counties  of  Jefferson,  Henry,  and  Bullitt. 

H.  C.  Trigg. 
Kingston,  Kyv  July  11,  1870. 
//.  0:  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir  :  I  was  requested  several  days  ago  by  George  to 
write  and  inform  you  he  had  been  sick.  He  has  received 
your  letter.  We  have  tried  Minnie;  she  is  a  good  runner. 
George  is  willing  for  you  to  have  her  at  flOO  if  you  still  wish 
her  as  you  seem  to  be  so  much  attached  to  her.  He  can  buy 
a  dog  here  that  will  suit  him  as  well.  He  says  there  is  no 
other  living  man  could  buy  her  for  love  or  money.  He  is 
very  low  to-day,  suffering  greatly.  He  keeps  Minnie  in  his 
room  all  the  time.     T  remain 

Respectfully, 

Set 1 1  W.  Mattpin. 


Kingston,  Ky.,  Feb.  1,  1871. 
H.  C.  Trigg, 

Dear  Friend  :  As  T  had  not  heard  whether  you  received 
Minnie  or  not,  I  thought  I  would  drop  you  a  few  lines  inquir- 
ing if  you  had  received  her.  I  shipped  by  Adams  Express 
some  three  weeks  ago.  I  have  been  uneasy  about  her  by  you 
not  writing  back.  I  would  like  very  much  to  see  you  and 
Lightfoot  and  Cricket  up  here.  I  dare  you  to  come.  Red 
foxes  are  all  over  the  country  now,  and  run  well.  I  think 
Towstring  can  beat  you.  Write  and  let  me  know  when  you  can 
come.  Your  friend, 

Geo.  W.  Maupin. 


62  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

Kingston,  Kyv  July  25,  1870. 
Mr.   Trigg, 

I  received  your  note,  dated  the  19th.  You  want  to  know 
if  1  would  sell  Towstring,  and  my  price  on  him.  I  have  had 
bad  luck  since  you  were  up  here — lost  my  wife  and  had  my 
house  burned— and  can  not  hunt  a  great  deal.  My  price  for 
Towstring  is  one  hundred  dollars.  You  wish  to  know  what 
Towstring  could  do.  I  think  he  can  beat  any  dog  in  the  Stale. 
In  a  word,  he  is  the  best  red  fox  dog  I  ever  saw,  under- 
stands them  better  and  is  always  willing  to  do  his  part.  He 
will  go  farther  to  start  a  fox  than  any  dog  I  ever  saw. 
Write  full  directions  how  you  want  him  sent.  I  ran  him 
after  a  deer.  He  lost  every  dog  and  caught  the  deer  in  two 
hours.     1  hope  I  can  come  down  this  fall. 

Jeff.   Maupin. 


Scooba,  Miss.,  April  24,  1890. 
Mr.  Haiden  Trigg,  Glasqov,  Ky., 

Dear  Str  :  Some  years  ago  my  friend,  R.  G.  Caldwell, 
formerly  of  your  city,  shipped  me  a  hound  from  your  pack 
named  Chase.  He  proved  to  be  a  very  fine  dog,  I  think  the 
best  I  ever  owned.  We  crossed  him  with  a  good  bitch  and 
raised  some  fine  hounds,  but  not  to  be  compared  with  the  old 
dog.  T  am  very  anxious  to  get  a  pair  of  pups  from  your  best 
dogs.  1  Mease  let  me  know  if  you  can  let  me  have  them,  and 
what  price.     An  early  reply  will  greatly  oblige. 

Yours  truly. 

H.  M.  Duke. 
This  dog  was  bred  in  my  kennel  and  was  full  Birdsong. 

Grenada,  Miss.,  Dec.  17,  1892. 
Col.  II.  C.  Trigg, 

My  Dear  Sir:  I  bought  Ann  and  last  year  her  pup, 
Houston,  from  Mr.  W.  S.  Walker.  I  have  Ann  now.  I  ran 
Houston  to  death.  He  was  the  best  dog  I  ever  saw.  Mr. 
Walker,  of  Garrard  county,  Ky.,  from  whom  I  got  them,  wrote 


THE  AMERICAN    FOX -HOUND.  63 


me  that  your  dog,  Houston,  was  bis  sire.  I  want  to  know 
]f  I  can  get  either  his  sire,  Houston,  or  some  well  bred 
dog  from  you.  1  think  the  Birdsong  dogs  "X"  on  my  Walker 
bitches  would  make  extra  dogs.  If  you  can  spare  me  one 
give  age,  size,  color  and  breeding. 

Yours  truly, 

J.  J.  Slack. 


Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec.  31,  1894. 
W:  L.   Porter, 

Dear  Sir  :  Answering  your  inquiry  as  to  my  opinion  of 
the  ''Trigg  dogs,"  T  will  say  that  I  have  known  this  stock  of 
dogs  for  twenty  years  or  more,  and  I  believe  them  to  be  the 
best  dogs  for  red  foxes  in  the  State  of  Kentucky. 

Respectfully, 

Ben  F.  Gardner, 
Treasurer  B.  G.  Kennel  Club. 

Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec.  21,  1891. 
Feu  ton  Hagerman,  Esq., 

Dear  Hagerman  :  I  learn  from  a  private  letter  that  it  will 
soon  be  possible  to  obtain  some  dogs  from  the  celebrated 
Trigg  Kennel,  and  advise  that  you  go  there  to  further  build 
up  the  pack.  1  have  known  these  dogs  for  twenty  years  and 
have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  as  red  fox  dogs  they  have  no 
equals  in  this  State,  and  I  have  known  most  of  the  leading 
kennels,  have  hunted  with  them  and  have  owned  some  good 
dogs  myself.  The  care  which  has  always  been  used  in  mat- 
ing, in  training  and  working  them,  added  to  an  original  pure 
pedigree,  has  enabled  these  dogs  to  earn  that  distinction. 
The  Hodo  of  Uncle  Remus'  story  in  Scribner  could  have 
made  nothing  off  of  Forest,  Baby,  Chase,  Money  or  Wild- 
goose  in  a  twenty  mile  kksail  to  winward  and  return"  with  a 
well  groomed  dog  fox  at  the  front.  In  my  opinion  they  are 
the  best  dogs  in  Kentucky,  and  sometimes  even  in  our  rough 


64  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-BOUND. 

country  they  kill  their  quarry  fairly  in  the  open.  We  bred 
our  best  Kennel  Club  bitches  to  Steve  and  Don  of  this  pack 
and  next  season  we  can  show  you  some  swift  and  courageous 
dogs.  Your  friend, 

William  L.  Dulaney. 

Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec.  20,  1894. 
J.  M.  Brents,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir:  We  have  bred  our  best  bitches  to  some  of  the 
dogs  in  the  kennel  of  H.  0.  Trigg,  Esq.,  and  value  the  pro- 
duce more  highly  than  any  other  young  things  we  have.  The 
dogs  and  bitches  which  we  own  and  which  came  from  the 
same  kennel  are  most  excellent  red  fox  dogs,  and  we  think 
one  of  the  bitches,  the  celebrated  Merideth  slut,  the  best  red 
fox  dog  in  the  world.     This  is  the  opinion  of  all  our  members. 

W.    S.    OVERSTREET, 

President  Bowling  Green  Kennel. 

Kurksville,  Ky.,  Jan.  13,  1895. 
H.  C.  Tria</, 

De4r  Sir:  In  reply  to  yours  of  recent  date  in  regard  to 
the  bitch  T  sent  you,  her  name  is  Annie.  She  has  had  two 
litters  of  pups  neither  by  curs.  The  most  of  her  offspring  is 
in  this  country.  They  are  all  rine  runners,  though  not  by  a 
thoroughbred  dog.  As  for  speed  and  endurance,  my  experi- 
ence is  that  they  can  not  be  excelled  anywhere,  and  I  have 
had  an  experience  of  twenty  years  running  foxhounds.  I 
would  not  have  any  other  stock  of  dogs.  Send  me  two  choice 
puppies  and  let  me  hear  how  you  are  pleased  with  Annie. 

Yours  truly, 

J.  C.  Herriford. 
Weatherford,  Texas,  Jan.  15,  1895. 
Col,  H.  C.  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir  and  Friend:  Yours  of  -  -  date  received  asking 
my  opinion  of  the  Trigg  dogs. 

Well,   I  hardly  know  what  to  say,  as  I  feel  that  I  can 


S    i 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  67 

hardly  say  enough  for  the  line  qualities  of  these  dogs.  They 
excel  any  dogs  I  ever  knew,  although  I  commenced  to  ride  to 
hounds  fifty  years  ago.  They  excel  in  nose,  mouth,  speed 
and  endurance,  and  are  the  most  sensible  hounds  living, 
being  easy  trained  for  the  game  you  want  and  if  petted  will 
come  any  reasonable  distance  to  their  master.  We  some- 
times have  long  stretches  after  wolves.  Sometimes  they  es- 
cape after  deer  and  he  has  to  be  eaten  alive  or  get  to  deep 
water,  but  they  always  return  to  their  master,  either  at  home 
or  in  camp.  Yours  truly, 

J.  R.  Couts. 

We  have  met  noted  packs  on  different  occasions,  once 
on  a  wager,  and  we  have  always  beaten  them  badly  with  the 
Trigg  dogs  and  they  have  wanted  some  of  our  dogs. 

J.  R.  C. 


Weatherford,  Texas,  Jan.  5,  1895. 
H.  C.  Trigg, 

Dear  Str  :  Yours  of  the  2d  to  hand  and  noted,  and  I 
would  say  in  regard  to  your  strain  of  fox-hounds  I  think  they 
are  the  fastest  and  best  that  I  have  ever  seen.  I  had  two  of 
them  in  Kentucky  and  I  ran  them  with  all  of  the  best  dogs  in 
my  county  and  they  never  failed  to  lead  the  pack  and  stay  to 
the  finish.       Since  I  came  to  Texas  I  have  seen  them  on  open 

prairie  beat   the  famous  -  dogs,  from  East  Texas,  in  a 

sight  race  after  a  wolf ;  in  fact,  1  have  never  seen  them  tested 
with  other  dogs  that  they  did  not  come  out  ahead. 

Your  friend, 

W.  J.  Morton. 

P.  S.  I  will  see  friend  Cnllum  and  advise  him  to  take  the 
bitch  that  you  spoke  of,  for  I  think  it  is  the  best  and  quickest 
way  to  recruit  his  pack.  W.  J.  M. 


68  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

Weatherford,  Texas,  Jan.  1,  1895. 
H.  0,  Trigg, 

Deir  Sir:  T  have  just  returned  from  a  deer  hunt  and 
found  tout  letter  awaiting  me,  and  was  glad  to  hear  from 
you  as  I  have  often  wanted  to  correspond  about  your  dogs 
for  I  think  they  are  the  fastest  in  the  South.  The  little  bitch, 
Maud,  I  have  is  the  fastest  dog  I  ever  saw  and  is  a  stayer. 
Her  breeding  is  as  Mr.  Gouts  wrote.  You  spoke  of  the  last 
dog  you  sold  the  boys  at  Weatherford,  Jim.  I  run  him  and 
he  was  a  grand  dog.  He  is  dead  now;  a  wolf  killed  him  up 
at  Mineral  Wells,  about  twenty-five  miles  from  Weatherford. 
Write  me  what  is  your  fastest  dog  and  your  price  on  him. 
Will  be  glad  to  hear  from  you. 

Very  truly, 

C.  M.  Miller. 


Louisville,  Ky.,  Jan.  1,  1895. 
H.  C.  Trigg,  Glasgow,  Ky. 

Dear  Sir  :  7  have  since  early  life  indulged  more  or  less 
in  the  chase;  have  owned  dogs  the  greater  part  of  my  life. 
For  many  years  have  bunted  with  what  is  known  as  the 
"Birdsong-Trigg  Fox-hound."  Some  twenty  years  ago  Mr. 
Trigg  presented  me  with  a  pair  of  puppies.  The  following- 
year  he  presented  a  friend  of  mine,  John  Shanklin,  of  Jeffer- 
son county,  also,  with  a  pair.  These  dogs  we  ran  for  years, 
and  for  speed,  nose,  ranging  qualities  and  dead  game  excelled 
any  dogs  I  ever  knew.  E  have  hunted  with  a  great  many 
breeds  of  fox-hounds,  but  have  never  known  or  seen  anything 
equal  to  these  dogs.  T  have  sent  their  produce  to  friends  in 
different  parts  of  the  coud try- -quite  a  number  to  the  State 
of  Arkansas — and  reports  from  all  parties  who  received  them 
is  that  they  are  superior  to  any  dogs  they  have  ever  known. 
I  am  glad  to  hear  that  the  lovers  of  the  chase  will  have  an 
opportunity  to  secure  these,  in  my  judgment,  the  best  red 
fox  dogs  in  America.  I  predict  that  their  already  deserved 
great  reputation  will  be  greatly  increased,  and  that  no  strain 


H.  C.  TRIGG'S  RESIDENCE. 


TEE  AMERICAN  FOX-EOUND.  71 


of  dogs  will  be  regarded  so  highly  as  these  by  those  fortunate 
enough  to  secure  them.  Truly  yours, 

R.  0.  Snoddy. 


Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec.,  4,  1895. 
To  Whom  It  May  Concern, 

Having  spent  the  greater  portion  of  my  life  in  the  field,  I 
am  authoritatively  persuaded  to  think  that  I  have  a  right  to 
speak  on  the  question  of  fox-hounds. 

I  have  had  occasion  to  observe  many  packs  in  and  out  of 
the  chase  both  as  regards  breed  and  "stick-to-it-iveness"  and 
frankly  admit  that  the  bounds  known  as  the  "Trigg  dogs" 
are  superior  in  all  points  of  excellence  to  any  others  which 
have  come  under  my  observation.  Their  endurance  in  a 
word  is  simply  everlasting.        Respectfully, 

Peter   Strange    (Colored), 
Keeper  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Club. 


Meridian,  Miss.,  June  1,  1894. 
Mr.  B.  ('.  Trigg,  Glasgow,  Ky., 

My  Dear  Sir:  Your  letter  received  and  read  with  pleas- 
ure. I  am  satisfied  the  dogs  you  had  in  the  sixties  were  bet- 
tr  than  anything  we  have  now.  You  are  supported  in  this 
by  such  men  as  Kamp,  Ridley  and  W.  H.  Luttrell,  the  oldest 
hunters  in  the  State  of  Georgia.  Captain  Ridley  says  the  fast- 
est dog  he  ever  saw  was  Mr.  Birdsong's  Hodo.  The  Maupin 
dog  T  was  not  so  familiar  with  as  he  was  bred  in  Kentucky. 
But  the  Walker  dogs  get  all  of  their  good  traits  from  this 
strain,  which  was  composed  equally  of  English  and  Kentucky 
blood.  Major  Crump  has  promised  me  a  duplicate  of  a  Long- 
street  chart  made  out  by  Birdsong  himself.  So  you  can  look 
out  for  it.  Major  Crump  is  having  the  best  July  with  their 
pedigrees  published,  so  every  Georgian  can  see  the  blood  of 
the  Georgia  dogs.  T  am  awaiting  this  publication  with  much 
interest.     I  am  glad  to  hear  you  still  have  the  Birdsong-Mau- 


72  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

pin  dog.  I  wish  you  could  run  down  and  see  me  and  talk 
over  dogs  and  the  chase.  With  best  wishes  for  your  continued 
good  health,  I  am  your  friend, 

G.  V.  Young. 


Point  Leavell,  June  17,  1890. 
H.  C.  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir  :  I  was  at  the  office  this  morning  when  your  let- 
ter came  and  I  mailed  you  a  postal  that  I  would  send  Trooper 
to  you  in  the  morning.  1  will  give  you  some  of  his  breeding  and 
the  kind  of  dog  I  consider  him.  He  will  be  three  years  old 
next  August,  by  Scott,  the  toughest  and  gamest  dog  I  think 
I  ever  owned.  Out  of  Lill,  Scott  by  Mack,  he  by  Larrimore's 
Tupey,  he  by  Maupin's  Fitz,  he  by  Tennessee  Lead,  Scott  out  of 
Fannie.  She  by  Richardson's  Tickler,  he  by  Maupin's  Tick- 
ler, Lill  by  Dash,  he  by  Burk's  Tom  (one  of  the  best  red  fox 
dogs  I  ever  knew),  Lill  out  of  Kate,  she  by  Jerry,  he  by 
Fox,  the  full  blood  English  dog  owned  by  Maupin  and  the  sire 
of  Dock  and  Tickler.  Lill  died  a  few  months  ago.  She  was 
twelve  years  old  and  I  never  knew  her  to  pull  out  of  a  race, 
no  matter  how  long  it  was,  in  her  life;  even  after  she  got  sc 
old  she  could  not  keep  up  she  would  stay  after  the  dogs  all  night 
the  longest  and  darkest  night  in  the  year.  I  know  you  know 
some  of  these  dogs  by  reputation  and  1  don't  believe  there  is 
hardly  such  a  bred  dog  in  this  part  of  the  State.  Now  as  to 
what  kind  of  a  fox  dog  he  is :  He  is  as  fast  as  I  care  for;  that 
is,  he  will  contend  for  the  track  from  the  start  to  finish  with 
any  dogs  he  has  ever  met,  and  as  fair  as  a  dog  can  be.  He 
straddles  the  track  and  gives  mouth  free  and  after  he  runs 
three  or  four  hours  no  dog  can  beat  him  giving  mouth  and  few 
dogs  I  have  ever  seen  can  keep  the  track  from  him.  He  has  a 
fine  mouth,  short,  coarse  and  fast,  and  the  longer  the  race  the 
freer  he  yelps.  He  trails  well,  though  he  don't  open  as  free 
as  some  dogs.  Will  not  cry  a  track  twice  in  the  same  place, 
and  the  best  broke  dog  T  ever  hunted.  I  have  been  hunting 
him  since  he  was  nine  months  old  and  never  knew  him  thrown 


THE  AMERICAN  SOX-HOUND.  75 

out  of  a  race.  The  only  weak  point  about  him  is  he  is  not  as 
good  a  hunter  as  I  would  like  him  to  be.  You  will  have  to  be 
very  careful  with  him,  as  he  has  never  had  but  one  home,  and 
the  most  particular  dog  1  ever  saw  about  who  he  follows,  though 
he  is  very  friendly  with  every  one  he  conies  about.  I  hunt 
almost  altogether  at  night,  but  I  believe  almost  every  one  else 
has  quit  night  hunting.  I  would  not  give  one  race  of  four 
or  five  hours  at  night  for  a  week's  running  in  day  time.  I  will 
run  Trooper  to-night  and  ship  him  to  you  in  the  morning. 

Give  me  something  of  the  history  of  the  Birdsong  dogs.  I 
never  saw  but  one  and  was  not  pleased  with  it.  Hoping  to 
hear  from  you  soon,  I  remain  Yours,  etc., 

W.  S.  Walker. 


Weatherford,  Texas,  Jan.  16,  1895. 
H.  C.  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir  :  You  ask  for  my  opinion  in  regard  to  your  breed 
of  foxhounds  as  compared  with  other  fox-hounds.  Well,  I 
have  been  running  your  dogs  for  the  last  four  or  five  years, 
have  run  them  after  fox,  wolf,  deer  and  wildcat,  and  have  run 
with  the  best  dogs  in  my  country  and  will  say  that  the  Trigg 
dogs  were  always  in  the  lead  and  stayed  to  the  finish.  They 
have  good  nose  and  mouth  and  are  good  game  when  they  catch  a 
wolf.  In  fact,  I  regard  them  the  best  dogs  in  the  world.  And 
in  regard  to  Jim,  the  dog  we  got  from  you,  I  think  he  was  the 
best  dog  that  ever  went  into  the  woods.  One  fall  and  winter 
he  caught,  that  1  got,  twenty-three  foxes,  seventeen  wolves, 
three  deer,  and  one  cat,  the  best  record  I  ever  knew  a  dog  to 
have.     Y'our  friends, 

D.  Cullum, 
W.  J.  Morton, 


Louisville,  Ky.,  Feb.  20,  1895. 
Mr.  H.  C.  Trigg, 

Dear  Sir:   I  have  bred  a  great  many  Birdsong-Trigg  dogs, 
and  they  have  proved  to  be  as  good  if  not  better  than  any 


76  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

fox  dogs  I  ever  owned.  1  have  been  hunting  for  thirty  years 
and  tried  to  get  the  best  dogs  in  the  country,  and  I  am  satis- 
fied that  these  dogs  are  equal  to  any  in  the  land. 

Very  respectfully, 

Jack  D.  Barbour. 


Trenton,  Ky.,  Jan.  14,  1895. 
Dear  Trigg  :  Was  glad  to  hear  from  you  once  more.  About 
my  pups  you  gave  me,  there  never  was  any  dogs  in  this  county 
superior  to  the  dog  pup  and  few  could  equal  Lucy.  I  named 
the  dog  after  you  and  you  can  bet  he  was  always  in  front. 
Old  Lucy  has  raised  more  fine  running  dogs,  I  expect,  than  any 
bitch  in  this  end  of  the  State.  Write  to  J.  C.  Russell,  Allens- 
ville,  and  J.  S.  Standard,  of  Elkton,  about  them.  J.  C.  Rus- 
sell ran  Brents  and  Lucy  for  several  years,  and  would  bet  his 
farm,  which  was  a  good  one,  on  them  losing  anybody's  pack. 

Your  friend, 

J.  P.  Russell. 


TEE  AVER  WAN  EOX-nOUND.  77 


DEATH  OF  HORNET. 


The  following  account  of  the  tragic  death  of  Hornet 
was  printed  in  the  Bowling  Green  Democrat:  The  Ken- 
nel Club  of  the  city  was  invited  by  that  hospitable  gentleman, 
0.  C.  Smith,  Esq.,  to  take  an  early  supper  with  him  on  the 
Friday  before  Christmas,  and,  afterward,  to  match  its  best  dogs 
against  the  best  of  the  packs  of  Ewing  Isbell,  Esq.,  and  Ma- 
jor Nat  Mercer.  The  invitation  was  accepted,  and  Captain 
Overstreet,  Judge  Hines,  Robert  Rodes,  Jr.,  and  Fent  Hager- 
man  took  the  dogs  of  the  club,  under  charge  of  Kennel  Keep- 
er Peter  Strange,  and  went  out.  The  son  of  Trigg-Nora  wa& 
at  the  head  of  the  pack.  The  club  borrowed  the  dog  from  Mr. 
H.  C.  Trigg  some  months  ago,  and  a  better  hound  never  cried 
a  trail. 

After  a  good  supper,  horses  were  mounted  and  horns  sound- 
ed and  the  hunt  began.  Near  Brad  Hill's  the  trail  of  a  red 
fox  was  struck,  Hornet,  as  usual,  being  the  first  to  cry  it.  It 
lay  breast  high,  and  the  twenty-one  dogs  were  soon  running 
as  for  a  man's  life.  After  a  spin  of  two  or  three  miles 
the  chase  swerved  to  the  right  and  struck  the  railroad  near 
Merritt's  crossing.  Xone  of  the  hunters  was  very  close,  but 
the  lead  at  this  point  was  claimed  for  IsbelFs  Swet,  Major, 
Major  Mercers  Kate,  and  by  the  clubmen  for  old  Hornet. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  real  truth,  it  was  afterwards  re* 
marked  that  the  bogle-like  notes  of  the  old  dog  never  seemed 
clearer  or  more  musical  than  they  did  that  night  as  they  died 
out  in  the  far  west.  The  moon  shone  bright,  and  for  an  hour 
and  a  half  all  was  still,  when  on  the  horizon  in  the  southwest 
the  pack  could  be  heard  coming  back.  Nearer  and  nearer  tfiey 
came  and  straight  as  an  arrow.  There  was  no  doubt  now  as  to 
the  leadership,  for  the  clear  notes  of  the  old  dog  were  almost 
triumphant  in  their  ring,  while  the  other  dogs  wxere  bunched 
but  little  in  the  rear.     Tn  a  moment  after  the  rumble  of  the 


78  THE  AMERICAS  FOX-HOUND. 

evening  passenger  train  drowned  the  cry  of  the  dogs  as  it 
rushed  toward  the  point  at  which  the  hunted  fox  was  evidently 
trying  to  cross.  It  seemed  to  reach  this  point  just  ahead  of 
the  pack  of  pursuing  dogs.  And  so  it  did,  but  Hornet,  who 
was  pressing  his  quarry,  struck  the  road  bed  just  as  the  loco- 
motive did.  The  roar  of  the  train  and  the  glare  of  its  lights 
did  not  cause  him  to  hesitate  or  blanch  for  one  moment  and  as 
he  sprang  eagerly  forward  with  exultant  yell  the  pilot  struck 
him.  Presumably  he  never  felt  the  pain  of  it,  and  there  he 
died  just  as  he  probably  would  have  wished,  pushing  a  red 
fox  at  the  head  of  as  good  a  pack  of  dogs  as  there  is  in  South- 
ern Kentucky.  It  was  soon  evident,  after  the  train  passed, 
that  something  was  wrong.  Hornet's  voice  was  still.  In  the 
cave  on  the  old  Len  Arnold  place,  a  straight  mile  away,  the 
fox  went  to  earth  and  quest  was  made  for  Hornet.  He  was 
found  by  the  roadside,  near  the  point  where  he  was  stricken, 
cold  in  death.  The  club  had  him  buried  and  above  him  is  this 
inscription : 

"He  was  faithful  unto  death." 

At  the  regular  meeting  on  Saturday  night  the  horn  of  the 
club  was  ordered  to  be  draped  in  mourning  for  one  moon  in 
memory  of  him  and  this  resolution  adopted,  a  copy  of  which  the 
secretary  was  directed  to  transmit  to  Mr.  Trigg  under  its  seal: 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  with  profound  regret  that  we  are  com- 
pelled to  communicate  to  Mr.  H.  C.  Trigg,  his  owner,  the  death 
of  Hornet,  than  whom  a  more  honest,  courageous  and  capable 
red  fox  dog  has  not  been  known  to  us.  We  regret  only  that 
liis  very  virtues  were  the  cause  of  his  death,  but  it  is  some 
consolation  to  know  that  he  died  as  he  had  lived,  when  hunt- 
ing, 'at  the  head  of  t lie  procession.'  " 


TEE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  79 


BUYING   AND  SELLING. 


"No  animal  that  lives  is  more  worthless  than  a  worthless 
hound.  I  have  seen  many  dear  at  one  dollar  per  hundred. 
One  hundred  dollars  is  a  moderate  figure  for  a  good  hound." 

I  sympathize  with  the  new  beginners  in  their  efforts  to 
get  up  a  pack  of  first-class  fox-hounds.  Many  imagine  that 
they  can,  by  purchase,  get  together  a  pack  of  dogs  in  a  month 
or  two  that  will  be  able  to  kill  the  red  fox.  We  say  to  our 
young  friends,  banish  all  such  thoughts.  In  the  rirst  place 
you  must  understand  hunting  in  order  to  teach  your  pack— 
the  dogs  can't  teach  you.  After  you  thoroughly  master  the 
science,  which  will  require  some  years,  you  will  be  prepared 
to  train  your  dogs.  The  surest  way  to  get  together  a 
first-rate  pack  of  dogs  is  to  breed,  raise  and  train  them  your- 
self. The  sporting  papers  are  filled  with  advertisements 
offering  for  sale  f ox-hounds  that  are  recommended  as  possess- 
ing qualities  of  first-class  dogs.  i.  e.,  fine  rangers,  splendid 
trailers  and  dead  game.  Some  of  these  advertisers  may  have 
such  animals  and  are  honest  in  their  statements,  while  others 
known  nothing  about  hunting,  are  unreliable  and  their  object 
is  to  get  money  without  any  consideration.  The  question 
presents  itself,  How  is  a  buyer  to  be  protected?  In  the  first 
place,  you  must  not  be  impatient  or  in  too  great  a  hurry  to 
purchase  dogs  from  strangers.  You  can  learn  a  great  deal  of 
such  men  by  exchanging  two  or  three  letters.  Ask  them 
these  questions: 

Do  you  live  in  the  country  or  city? 

What  kind  of  game  do  you  hunt,  deer,  wolf,  red  or  gray 
foxes? 

How  long  have  you  been  a  hunter? 

From  whom  did  yon  get  your  stock  dogs? 

To  whom  have  you  sold  dogs? 


80  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

Is  the  country  you  hunt  over  cavernous,  i.  e..  are  the  holes 
numerous  that  the  foxes  go  in  when  pressed? 

How  many  red  foxes  have  you  ever  caught? 

You  can  form  a  very  correct  opinion  by  having  these  ques- 
tions  answered. 

Never  buy  a  dog  from  a  man  who  is  not  a  practical  hunter. 
Beware  of  men  who  live  in  cities  and  offer  for  sale  half  a 
dozen  different  breeds  of  dogs.  If  the  party  Avrites  that  he 
has  caught  a  great  many  red  foxes  in  a  season  when  you 
know  his  country  is  filled  with  safe  burrows  and  holes,  let  him 
keep  his  fast  dogs:  they  are  too  fast.  You  might  get  the 
party  to  get  recommendations  from  known  reliable  men.  If 
the  dealer  is  honest  and  truly  represents  his  dogs,  you  assure 
him  that  you  are  a  man  of  integrity  and  he  will  not  hesitate 
to  send  you  a  dog  on  trial,  you  guaranteeing  to  pay  his  price 
or  return  the  animal  in  good  condition. 

The  loss  in  purchase  and  sale  does  not  always  fall  on  the 
buyer.  I  have  heard  of  parties  refusing  to  pay  for  first-class 
dogs;  in  fact  trying  to  swindle  the  seller.  AYhen  the  seller 
doubts  the  integrity  of  the  buyer  we  would  suggest  that  he 
be  required  to  give  such  recommendations  by  some  of  his 
public  officials  as  will  insure  him  to  be  a  gentleman,  or  have 
him  deposit  price  of  purchase  in  tin1  nearest  bank  subject  to 
inspection  of  dog. 

We  have  sold  very  few  dogs  and  were  fortunate  enough 
in  all  of  our  transactions  to  have  gentlemen  to  deal  with,  and 
can  say  the  same  in  all  of  our  numerous  purchases  in  the  last 
thirtv  years. 


Q/d  Contain    *as  bred  tyDrBuchanan  of 

Shm  ■  \  i  -■-  Mary/and  jruin  whon  I  ■  -  w 


,'v.v 'c:'.  ,iuuyiur/u  J( 

Old  fo/j/um  , 
<ut  0}  Sof^hij.   Iran   tva&  &/, 


Hrencta  -  naiJro/T?  ifi«  Jffnne/i  of, 
.    JJr  Ca6eU '  Carr/'nyton  of  y/sg'tnta. 

Brenda\     tyeai«m<Sue.  perfect  Sumety  &/« 
fan  very  ji/eet  amy  a.  fine  6rea  fc 


Andtvos  by  a  7?ed  F/ecfec/ <Jf  ?/  tfe 
W  **&>  S3,*  o*/,/,fZ,  rrocfc 
B,KA   faagoo  d*f„ai  s^enf™  //ai„Cc* 


f'fAt  tool  a  bttiAJalib**. 

6M  bnufWromiMftfo 
if  0.csAt;,maf1njuj„a} 

7W  "as*  retthlel  ~R<,c!orSfcc/c 
-2  red  6y/  JSy'rdsonei  />?  /&?-+. 


4  S/?au  4//c£ 

a  6tufiYut'4fat/(eLitd 

"fine  fox  fan/id. 


.Buffi,  hm  bred '  i •'/?  fto  mounfows  <f 
fflaHflmiJ  and  svrt  %~3/ro'si>ry//?/85'9- 
AvfyBic//er  tf  SJje/>a.rds&»"?.  &  was 
J  *&/  da?  JV&ffe    7ijkf~ nieditoti  s/ze. 
and  a  food. 


/(ate    irus  ired  /y \Zyydsoiia 
r.iediuni  -?/^c 


f*/*f<3J3toc*  faff  ?£6sZ6/> 


/eitus  was  SndSy  *y£t;,,dt' 
Z/acKotd  ft* fete  for  found 


BaJlai  waHfed 6uJ).kV 
.-.-  m./8S8.7?ee'"'fi' 
""it/g-  7>jis 


0 


2  4ave  Sts,w*t««a  Hustle  „  %       , 


Phil  las  was  bred eq 
ftt< tinny-  Wa<*  tyfe 


nostreel  tras  whelmed  in  /86o 
■Reel  tyt*  mlti  n/iife     Zt-mtift 

tie  tras  a  fe  >yfr? fox  fad/uf 'and 'feryjtst 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  81 


DESCRIPTION   OF   DOGS. 


Dick's  Dog.— Bred  by  Dick  Smith,  whelped  in  L887,  22 
inches  high,  large  black  and  tan,  white  tips  and  white  breast, 
ring  neck,  splendid  ranger,  fine  trailer,  dog  of  great  speed 
and  dead  game. 

Jim  Sibbins.— Whelped  in  1884,  medium  size  black  and 
tan,  white  points  (see  letters  of  Cullam,  Morton,  and  Miller 
as  regards  his  performance  in  Texas,  where  he  made  a  great 
reputation). 

Nora. — Black  and  white  spotted,  fine  fox  dog,  good  breed- 
er. 

Wild  Goose. — Medium  size,  black  and  white,  splendid 
ranger,  superior  trailer,  good  tongue,  celebrated  as  a  start 
dog. 

Minnie. — Black  and  white,  medium  size. 

Couchman. — From  Maupin  kennel,  white  and  lemon  spots; 
a  dog  of  great  speed. 

Queen. — Bed  or  tan,  white  points,  noted  for  speed. 

Baby. — Tan.  slightly  black  on  back,  prominent  white 
points,  ring  neck,  24  inches  high,  powerfully  built,  noted  for 
great  speed  and  endurance;  considered  the  finest  dog  of 
his  day. 

Scrivner's  Waxie.  —Old  stock,  magnificent  gray  fox  dog; 
noted  for  ranging  qualities,  fine  trailer  and  runner. 

Birdsong. — Was  a  very  large  black  and  tan. 

Light. — Bred  and  owned  by  A.  Childress;  a  good  fox 
dog. 

Tall. — Bred  and  raised  by  Harv.  Johnson;  black  dog  with 
white  points. 

Rip. — Bred  by  George  L.  F.  Birdsong,  fawn  colored,  dog 
of  very  great  energy  and  speed. 

Ward. — Was  sent  to  me  when  a  puppy  by  Colonel  Ward, 
of  Green  county,  Georgia ;  black,  white  points,  fine  fox  dog. 


THE  AMERICAN  EOX-HOUND. 


Ltze. — Fawn  color,  good  size,  great  speed,  bred  by  Dr.  Jesse 
Smith. 

Bee. — Bred  by  George  L.  F.  Birdsong,  red  or  tail,  white 
points,  superior  speed,  dead  game. 

Yic. — Bred  by  Joe  White,  was  a  fine  dog. 

Longstreet. — Bred  by  George  L.  F.  Birdsong,  whelped 
in  1860,  thought  by  Mr.  B.  to  be  the  fastest  dog  he  ever  OAvned, 
was  one  of  the  few  dogs  that  could  kill  a  red  fox  unaided. 
See  chart. 

Ward's  Flora. — Owned  by  Colonel  R.  H.  Ward,  Green 
county,  Georgia,  was  a  full  bred  Birdsong  and  a  noted  dam, 
a  fine  dog. 

Hampton. — A  beautiful  red  or  tan  with  white  points, 
loaned  me  by  Colonel  R.  H.  Ward,  and  died  in  my  kennel. 
See  letter  regarding  his  superior  qualities. 

Wade  Hampton. — Was  presented  to  Colonel  Ward  by  Wade 
Hampton,  of  South  Carolina. 

Raiby. — Was  from  the  kennel  of  Colonel  Maupin,  white 
with  black  and  tan  spots,  strongly  built,  of  great  speed  and 
endurance.  The  best  Maupin  dog,  "Minnie"  excepted,  ever  in 
my  kennel. 

Bee  No.  2. — Medium  size,  black  and  tan,  a  splendid  red 
fox  dog. 

Julia. — A  black  and  tan  noted  for  her  ranging  and  trail- 
ing qualities,  was  a  fine  dog. 

Tempest. — Medium  size  black  and  tan,  owned  by  Dr.  Jesse 
Smith. 

Tennessee  Lucian. — Imported  from  Tennessee  by  S^th 
Kinslow ;  was  a  very  fine  dog. 

Old  Forest. — Black  and  tan,  bred  and  raised  by  Colonel 
R.  H.  Ward,  of  Georgia.  Secured  when  four  years  old.  A 
magnificent  red  fox  dog.  Could  and  did  catch  red  foxes 
alone  and  unaided. 

Fannie. — Fawn  color,  medium  size,  bred  by  Mr.  Birdsong, 
a  beautiful  animal  with  symmetry  of  a  greyhound.  See 
letter  of  Mr.  Robinson's. 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  83 


Reel.— Presented  to  Colonel  Ward  by  Mr.  Birdsong,  three- 
fourths  Irish,  one-fourth  "Maryland;"  a  very  excellent  fox 
hound. 

Boston.— Owned  by  Colonel  Ward  and  a  noted  sire  of 
fine  fox  hounds. 

Willis.— Was  out  of  a  Virginia  dog  and  slut,  and  a  very 
superior   animal. 

Bella.— Was  dark  fawn  in  color.  Owned  by  Melvin  Lowry, 
who  got  her  when  a  puppy  from  Mr.  W.  F.  Trigg. 

Greeley. — Medium  size,  black  and  tan  a  game  fox  dog. 

Hargrove's  Queen. — Light  red,  a  good  dog. 

Riele.— Black  and  tan,  white  points,  a  splendid  ranger, 
fine  trailer  and  dead  game. 

Jones'  Della. -Pale  red,  fine  size,  with  great  speed  and 
endurance. 

Chase.— Whelped  in  1865,  purchased  with  Bee  from  Mr. 
Birdsong.  Was  a  light  red  with  white  points,  noted  as  a  supe- 
rior fox  dog  and  sire.  One  of  the  best  dogs  ever  in  my 
kennel. 

Maupin's  Minnie. — Small  in  size,  white  with  black  and 
tan  spots,  very  compactly  built,  was  noted  for  her  great  speed 
and  endurance.  Her  grand  sire  and  dam  both  by  Colonel 
Maupin's  celebrated  dog  Tennessee  Lead. 

The  Kinslow  Bitch  was  a  full  Birdsong  and  a  fine  fox 
dog. 

Trigg. — Black  and  tan,  fine  size,  one  of  the  best  fox  dogs 
of  his  day. 

Lead. — Black  and  tan,  noted  for  his  speed  and  endurance. 

Dallas. — White,  black  and  tan  spots,  good  dog. 

Jepson's  Annie. — Owned  by  Dr.  J.  J.  Jepson,  bred  by 
George  Haefer  of  Jefferson  county,  Kentucky.  A  dog  of  great 
speed  and  endurance,  noted  as  being  the  dam  of  many  fine 
fox  dogs. 

Haefer's  Brenda— White,  black  and  tan  spots,  purchased 
from  Colonel  Maupin  and  said  to  be  one  of  the  finest  dogs  of 
her  dav. 


84  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

Little  Annie.- -Bred  in  Georgia  by  Colonel  Ward, 
whelped  in  my  kennel  in  1868.  She  was  noted  for  her  hunt- 
ing qualities  and  was  a  fine  fox  hound.  Her  produce  were  all 
good  dogs. 

Rose. — Bred  and  owned  by  Colonel  Ward,  sent  me  in  whelp 
and  returned.  She  was  by  the  celebrated  dog  July  and  poa. 
sessed  many  of  his  good  qualities. 

Tennessee  Crowner. — Was  a  very  large  black  and  tan  dog 
brought  from  Tennessee  by  Sam  Duncan,  noted  for  his  hunt- 
ing and  trailing  qualities.  This  dog  and  Tennessee  Lucian 
were  very  probably  of  the  same  parent  stock  as  Mr.  Maupin's 
famous  Tennessee  Lead. 

Kinslow^s  Ida. — Black,  medium  size,  one  of  the  best  fox- 
hounds of  her  day,  dam  of  many  fine  dogs. 

Fannie. — Red  and  tan,  medium  size  and  a  good  dog. 

Trump. — Black  and  tan,  white  points,  a  fine  hunter,  very 
speedy  and  game. 

Rock. — Secured  for  a  stud  dog  from  Garrard  county.  Was 
white  and  black  spotted,  of  good  size.  We  lost  him  on  the  first 
hunt  in  a  fox  cave. 

Mercy. — Was  a  full  Maupin  bitch,  direct  from  Mr.  Mau- 
pin's kennel. 

Hodo. — Was  bred  by  Birdsong  in  1853,  black,  white  tips, 
26   inches  high. 

There  is  an  error  in  the  chart  of  Dick's  Dog;  Jim  Sibbins, 
was  out  of  Fannie.  Fannie  was  out  of  Delia,  by  Trump, 
Trump  was  by  Rock,  out  of  Mercy.  Rock  and  Mercy  were 
full   Maupin. 

Lou. — Was  full  sister  to  Butler  and  came  from  Maryland. 
See  description  of  Butler  in  chart  of  Longstreet. 

Brunette. — Was  bred  by  Birdsong  in  1850. 

Kit. — AVas  a  stray  bitch,  in  Jones  county. 

Hodo,  Jr. — Was  bred  bv  Ridglev  and  raised  bv  Alexander. 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  87 


(From  the  Sportsman  Review.) 

THE   FULL  CRY   PACK. 


"Ancient  history  has  been  read, 

And  stories  have  been  told 
Of  how  Moss  caught  his  mare, 

It  was  in  the  days  of  old. 
Oh,  he  was  as  cunning  as  a  fox, 

And  as  crafty  as  a  hare, 
And  I'll  tell  you  bye  and  bye 

How  Moss  caught  his  mare." 

—  From  an  Old  Song. 

There  is  a  demand  just  now  for  everything  pertaining 
to  field  sports,  and  especially  as  regards  the  most  exciting 
and  healthful  of  them  all — fox  hunting. 

The  praises  of  favorite  dogs  have  been  sung  until  their 
names  have  become  famous;  but,  while  reading  with  interest 
and  pleasure  of  the  wonderful  achievements  of  Hodo,  July,  Old 
Kate,  and  others,  T  have  felt  a  desire  to  give  to  the  lovers  of 
sport  something  of  the  history  of  what  I,  at  that  time,  con- 
sidered the  ideal  hound- -certainly  one  of  the  fastest  and 
gamest  of  his  kind.  Recognizing  my  inability  to  do  my 
favorite  justice  in  print,  I  have  taken  every  opportunity  to 
recount  the  wonderful  things  Old  Waxie  accomplished  to 
fellow  sportsmen,  around  camp  fires,  or  on  any  occasion  where 
the  subjects  of  the  chase  were  being  discussed.  Having  be- 
come thoroughly  familiar  with  the  history,  if  not  worried  with 
its  repetition,  my  friends  will  no  longer  listen  quietly  to  the 
telling  of  it,  and  will  take  themselves  off  the  minute  Old 
Waxie's  name  is  mentioned.  Having  no  one  to  tell  it  to  now, 
1  will  endeavor  to  write  an  account  of  one  of  his  many  achieve- 
ments for  the  benefit  of  those  who  never  heard  of  or  were  so 
fortunate  as  to  know  this  wonderful  dog. 

It  was  about  the  year  '82.  I  had  returned  from  college 
to  spend  the  holidays  and  brought  home  with  me  a  fellow 
student  and  chum.  My  friend  had  never  been  on  a  hunt; 
in  fact,  had  been  reared  in  a  city,  and  his  experience  with 


88  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

horse  and  saddle  was  limited  to  a  few  rides  around  the 
suburbs  of  Memphis.  He  had  read  and  heard  of  what  great 
sport  it  was  to  ride  to  hounds,  and  a  few  days  after  our  arrival, 
when  I  suggested  we  go  for  a  day's  hunt,  he  was  delighted 
with  the  idea,  and  could  scarcely  eat  or  sleep  in  anticipation 
of  the  chase. 

At  that  time  I  had  no  dogs  myself,  but  had  often  gone 
with  my  uncles,  H.  C.  and  William  F.  Trigg,  both  of  whom 
had  famous  packs  of  the  Bird  song  and  Maupin  strain  of 
hounds,  and  I  knew  either  would  be  glad  to  go  or  let  me  hunt 
their  dogs.  Uncle  Will  Trigg  lived  eight  miles  in  the  country, 
and  when  I  spoke  to  Uncle  Haiden  about  the  proposed  hunt, 
he  suggested  that  1  go  that  evening  to  his  brother's  and  join 
himself  and  my  friend  the  next  morning  about  daybreak. 
The  "Wade  Cave"  was  to  be  the  meeting  place,  a  famous 
resort  for  the  red  fox,  and  at  that  time  the  home  of  an  old 
red  that  had  been  in  the  habit  of  giving  a  pack  of  dogs  about 
all  they  cared  for  before  taking  to  earth.  This  cave  was  sit- 
uated in  deep  Avoods,  about  midway  between  town  and  my 
uncle's  place  in  the  country.  After  arranging  for  Charlie 
Goodwin — my  friend— to  ^  to  Uncle  Haiden  for  the  night, 
so  as  lo  be  up  for  an  early  start,  I  mounted  my  horse  about 
dark,  and  arrived  at  Uncle  Will's  for  late  supper.  I  told  him 
the  object  of  my  visit,  and  he  seemed  delighted  at  the  pros- 
pect of  beating  his  brothers  pack  with  "Trump"  and  "Polly," 
his  two  best  dogs.  There  was  between  them  the  greatest 
rivalry  as  to  the  merits  of  their  individual  dogs,  and  though 
they  had  the  same  blood,  and  would  combine  their  packs  to 
defeal  others,  the  question  of  which  had  the  fastest  dog  was 
never  satisfactorily  settled.  After  seeing  that  his  pack  were 
securely  shut  up  to  prevent  them  from  going  out  for  a  run  on 
their  own  account  that  night,  we  turned  in,  but  were  up  be- 
fore any  signs  of  daybreak.  After  a  substantial  breakfast  of 
ham  and  eggs,  corn  cakes  and  a  cup  of  strong  coffee,  we  un- 
kenneled and  fed  the  dogs  and  started  for  the  appointed  meet- 
ing place.     We  had  with   us  "Trump,"  a  magnificent  sped- 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  89 


men  of  the  Maupin  strain,  and  his  little  mates,  "Charlie," 
"Smoker"  and  "Jake."  We  also  had  two  of  Trump's  get, 
out  of  a  full  Birdsong  bitch,  "Mel"  and  "Polly,"  about 
eighteen  months  old.  "Trump"  was  at  the  head  of  the  pack, 
but  "Polly."  though  young,  had  shown  unusual  speed  and 
gameness. 

When  within  about  a  mile  of  the  cave,  and  just  as  signs 
of  day  were  appearing,  "Trump,"  who  had  been  leaping 
leisurely  along  in  front  of  our  horses,  stopped  short,  and 
after  listening  for  a  second,  went  off  down  the  road  at  full 
speed,  followed  by  the  rest  of  the  dogs,  but  in  silence.  Wre 
reined  up  and  could  distinctly  hear  the  pack  of  the  other  party 
in  full  cry  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  us,  and  making  for 
the  cave  a  little  to  our  left.  We  put  spurs  to  our  horses  and 
ran  for  that  point,  but  when  half  a  mile  from  it  we  heard 
Trump  and  his  mate  "put  in"  ahead  of  the  pursuing  pack, 
and  so  close  to  the  fox  that  he  had  evidently  to  take  the  cave 
or  lose  his  life. 

Both  parties  arrived  there  a  few  minutes  later.  Uncle 
Haiden  was  of  the  opinion  that  he  had  run  upon  a  youngster 
on  his  return  from  a  marauding  expedition  during  the  night, 
and  that  we  would  find  the  old  runner  in  the  big  woods  to 
the  south  of  the  cave,  his  favorite  covert. 

My  friend  Goodwin  was  in  high  glee,  having  enjoyed  the 
short  spin  after  the  young  fox  immensely,  and  was  anxious  to 
jump  one  that  would  stand  before  the  hounds  longer. 

Uncle  Haiden  had  brought  with  him  "Scott,"  "Trigg," 
"Waxie,"  "Wildgoose,"  "Rachel;1  "Bug,"  "Hornet,"  "One 
Eye,"  and  "Wonder,"  nil  well  trained  and  tried  in  many  a 
hard  race,  where  speed  and  gameness  were  tested  to  the  ut- 
most. 

We  lost  little  time,  but  started  for  the  big  woods,  hoping 
to  find  the  old  fellow  before  the  heavy  frost  of  that  night 
should  be  dried  on  leaves  and  grass  by  the  morning  sun.  Be- 
tween us  and  the  big  woods  was  a  smaller  clump  of  trees  in- 
terspered  with   an  undergrowth   of  briars   and  bushes.       Be- 


90  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

fore  reaching  these  we  heard  the  fierce  challenge  of  "Trump," 
followed  almost  immediately  by  the  cry  of  the  entire  pack, 
which  went  away  so  rapidly  that  Ave  knew  they  were  running, 
and  close  on  the  game.  Feeling  sure  that  they  had  unkenneled 
the  old  fox,  we  galloped  rapidly  to  the  top  of  the  hill  on  the 
edge  of  the  big  woods  in  which  direction  the  dogs  had  gone. 
They  had  already  passed  over  the  hill,  and  were  a  mile  beyond, 
making  for  an  old  field  of  sage  grass  and  briars,  through  which 
the  fox  always  ran  to  the  bluff  of  a  creek  beyond  before 
returning. 

Knowing  where  he  would  cross  after  his  double  on  the 
bluff,  we  started  to  ride  leisurely  to  the  point.  We  had  gone 
but  a  few  hundred  yards  when  we  were  surprised  to  hear  the 
dogs  returning  over  a  route  thick  with  bushes  and  fallen  trees, 
and  one  the  old  red  never  took.  They  were  dodging  in  among 
these  rough  places,  but  making  such  a  cry  as  indicated  they 
were  close  on  their  game,  which  was  surely  in  distress  and 
endeavoring  to  elude  them  by  making  short  doubles.  We 
were  considerably  mystified  at  such  capers  being  cut  by  a  fox 
that  had  more  than  once  given  us  several  hours  of  running  in 
the  open  woods  and  fields  before  taking  to  earth. 

We  were  not  to  remain  in  doubt  long,  however,  for  the 
dogs  were  now  closer  to  us,  and  by  the  savage  cry  made  we 
knew  they  were  in  sight  of  the  fox,  though  sheltered  from  our 
view  by  the  bushes.  We  watched  with  bated  breath,  expect- 
ing to  see  the  fox  break  from  the  covert  and  make  across  the 
field  to  our  right  but  instead  we  heard  that  peculiar  cry 
made  by  the  gray  fox  when  caught.  We  knew  then  that  we 
had  been  mistaken,  and  that  we  had  caught  some  chance  or 
stray  gray  fox  that  happened  to  be  out  of  his  accustomed 
haunts.  This  proved  correct.  Dismounting  and  making  our 
way  to  the  spot  where  they  had  stopped  in  the  branches  of  a 
fallen  tree,  T  found  one  of  the  largest  gray  dog  foxes  I  ever 
saw.     They  had  caught  him  in  about  twenty  minutes  run. 

Though  we  had  had  two  races,  the  sun  was  just  showing, 
and  we  concluded  to  ride  to  the  far  edge  of  the  woods  where 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  91 


we  knew  we  would  find  the  trail  of  the  old  runner  should  he 
have  been  frightened  from  his  covert  by  the  cry  of  the  pack 
after  the  gray.     Sure  enough,  there  we  found  where  he  had 
slipped  out  down  a  small  branch  lined  with  willows.       The 
first  challenge  came  from  Scott  this  time,  and  was  given  in 
that  clear,  musical  tone  which,  when  repeated  rapidly,  as  he 
gave  it  when  on  a  warm  trail,  immediately  brought  every  dog- 
in  his  hearing  to  him  and  filled  a  sportsman's  entire  being 
with  that  indescribable  feeling  that  always  takes  possession 
when  he  realizes  the  game  in  sight,  the  sport  about  to  begin 
and  certain  to  be  good.     The  pack  made  for  the  bluff  led  by 
Scott,  the  others  having  all  fallen  in  with  the  exception  of 
Trump,  who  had   made  for  the  bluff  at   once,  knowing  that 
there  he  was  sure  to  find  the  game.     He  did  strike  fully  a 
hundred  yards  ahead,  but  his  challenge,  resembling  the  cry  of 
a.  brant  given  rapidly,  was  known  to  the  others  and  they  im- 
mediately hearkened  to  him.     The  scent  had  freshened,   and 
before  they  reached  the  top  of  a  hill  beyond  the  bluff  where 
the  fox  had  turned  sharp  to  the  left,  they  were  well  together 
and  running  on  a  hot  trail.    We  rode  to  the  upper  end  of  the 
bluff  and  sighted  the  fox  as  he  came  down  and  crossed  the 
creek  and  made  up  through  the  open  woods.       He  did  not 
seem  particularly  concerned  regarding  his  future  prospects  in 
life.     His  gait  was  more  of  a  leisurely  gallop  than  a  run.     He 
carried  his  brush,  which  was  well  tipped  with  white,  straight 
out  behind,  and  being  a  very  bright  golden  red,  he  presented 
a  sight  long  to  be  remembered  by  those  who  saw  him  as  he 
passed  through  the  bright  spots  of  forest  made  by  the  rays  of 
the  newly  risen  sun. 

The  dogs  came  about  four  hundred  yards  behind.  Having 
their  joints  well  limbered  up  in  the  two  previous  runs,  they 
were  setting  a  lively  pace  and  one  well  calculated  to  soon  re- 
mind Mr.  Red  that  this  was  not  his  usual  morning  exercise. 
Trump  was  in  the  lead,  which  fact  brought  a  cheering  halloo 
to  him  from  his  master,  but  Scott,  Trigg,  Waxie,  Wildgoose 
and  Pollv  were  well  bunched  close  up,  with  the  others  yelp- 


TEE  AMERICAN  FOX-EOUND. 


ing  at  their  heels.  The  fox  led  through  the  woods  and  to- 
ward the  Wade  cave.  We  galloped  behind  to  the  road  on 
the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  knowing  that  the  old  fellow  was 
feeling  too  good  to  lake  to  shelter  so  soon,  the  country  inter- 
vening being  very  rough,  we  concluded  to  await  the  return. 
We  heard  the  pack  pass  over  the  ridge  and  go  into  the  deep 
hollow  at  the  head  of  which  was  the  cave. 

They  went  out  of  our  hearing  and  for  a  minute  we  feared 
he  had  gone  in,  but  no.  There's  a  cry;  is  it  "Trump"  or 
"Trigg?" — two  men  at  least  differ  widely — followed  by  the 
full  crying  pack  as  they  rise  the  hill  beyond,  and  turn  to  the 
left  circling  for  the  return.  They  are  two  miles  from  us,  but 
we  can  hear  them  distinctly.  We  know  just  Avhere  they  will 
come  into  the  field  in  front  of  us.  They  have  gone  six  or 
seven  miles  and  are  warming  to  their  work.  They  have  cer- 
tainly lessened  the  distance  between  them  and  the  fox.  Every 
nerve  strung  to  the  highest  pitch,  we  sit  in  silence,  our  horses 
close  together.  Not  a  word  is  spoken,  except  Avhen  Uncle 
Will  says  something  about  "Watch  for  Trump  to  come  over 
the  fence  first,"  which  causes  his  brother  to  smile  as  if  such 
a  thing  was  impossible.  The  dogs  are  now  in  the  woods  where 
we  unkenneled  the  gray,  and  the  fox  must  soon  show  him- 
self in  the  field.  Yes,  there  he  comes,  on  to  the  rail  fence. 
He  pauses  just  a  second  and  glances  back  as  if  to  satisfy 
himself  he  could  make  across  the  field  without  showing  him- 
self to  his  pursuers.  He  must  have  concluded  there  was  little 
time  to  lose  as  he  bounded  off  and  with  tremendous  leaps 
made  for  the  cover  of  the  woods  on  the  opposite  side.  We 
lose  all  interest  in  his  foxship  now,  as  we  watch  that  panel 
of  fence  to  see  what  dog  comes  over  first.  The  woods  ring 
with  echoes,  as  the  flying  pack  rush  for  the  fence.  They  are 
there;  "Scott"  and  "Trump"  come  over  as  if  they  were  yoked 
together,  so  close  that  no  advantage  can  be  claimed  for  either 
by  their  respective  owners;  but  "Trigg"  and  "Waxie,"  "Polly" 
and  "Bug"  are  over  and  in  the  field  almost  as  soon.  The  fox  has 
left  a  blazing  scent  on  the  damp,  dead  grass  of  the  pasture. 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  93 

They  run  with  heads  up,  giving  tongue  at  every  leap.  They 
are  all  over  the  fence  now  and  it  is  two  hundred  yards  across 
the  field.  Here  is  a  chance  to  test  speed.  We  sit  like 
statues  and  almost  as  quiet.  "Trump"  and  "Scott"  start 
across  neck  and  neck.  Neither  can  gain  a  hair's  breadth  on 
the  other.  I  keep  my  eye  on  "Waxie;"  I  know  this  is  the 
time  for  him.  He  lias  run  long  enough  behind.  Yes,  he  is 
gaining.  He  has  passed  "Trigg"  and  challenged  the  leaders. 
He  has  lapped  them  by  half  a  length.  "Waxie"  is  my  favorite 
and  I  unconsciously  urge  my  horse  a  step  forward.  His 
master  is  watching  him,  too,  and  reaches  for  his  hat,  which 
goes  into  the  air  with  an  ear-splitting  yell  which  seems  to  lift 
the  gallant  fellow  over  the  fence  a  full  length  in  front  of  the 
leaders.  We  put  spurs  to  the  impatient  horses  who  are  as 
much  enthused  as  their  riders,  and  attempt  to  follow  through 
the  woods. 

One  might  as  well  attempt  to  catch  the  shadow  of  a  pass- 
ing vulture;  before  we  are  to  the  branch  they  are  on  the  bluff 
and  the  echoes  which  come  back  tell  us  with  what  confidence 
they  are  running.  The  fox  doubles  behind  the  top  of  the 
hill  and  turns  our  way.  We  look  out  for  him.  but  he  turns 
the  crown  of  the  hill  once  more,  evidently  afraid  to  trust  him- 
self to  the  open  woods  again.  Old  fellow,  you  have  come  to 
that  bluff  once  too  often  and  you  begin  to  realize  it  when  too 
late.  You  must  do  something.  Here  he  comes  down  the  bluff 
and  across  the  creek,  making  a  last  desperate  effort  to  reach  the 
cave  three  miles  away,  where  he  has  so  often  found  shelter. 
Yes,  there  came  Waxie — his  peculiar  "Ku-Ku"  given  with  such 
fierce  defiance  to  the  flying  pack  twenty  yards  in  his  rear  that 
I  must  rejoice  with  him.  I  let  out  a  great  "Halloo!"  He 
looks  up  and  catches  sight  of  his  game  fifty  years  ahead.  His 
mouth  shuts  like  a  jack-knife  and  we,  sitting  there  on  the 
bank  of  the  stream,  witness  the  greatest  burst  of  speed  ever 
seen.  Before  the  fox  is  aware  of  his  danger,  the  now  silent 
Waxie  is  within  ten  steps  of  him.  He  hears  his  approaching 
feet,  looks  back  and  seems  to  abandon  all  hope  of  escape,  for 


94  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

he  suddenly  turns  and  is  caught  between  the  glistening  teeth 
of  one  of  the  fastest  and  gamest  dogs  that  ever  followed  a  horn. 

Gone  Away. 
Glasgow.  Ky.,  Feb.  22,  1895. 


(From  American  Field.) 

TWENTY-FOUR   YEARS   AGO. 


BY  FULL  CRY. 


Startled  from  a  sound  sleep  by  a  loud  knock  at  my  chamber 
door,  I  heard  a  voice  say : 

"Hello,  MarseHade!" 

-Who  is  that?" 

"Me-  Sam." 

-What  time  is  it,  Sam?" 

"Dunno,  'cept  I  knows  it's  'bout  time  youse  up.  I)e  mornin' 
stair's  up.  the  chickens  dun  crow'd  fur  day,  and  ole  Foris  a- 
talkin'  down  ter  de  ken'l." 

"Sam,  what  kind  of  a  morning  is  it?" 

"It's  des  de  kine  youse  allers  talkin'  'bout  so  much.  De 
win's  in  de  souf,  an'  de  sky  as  cloudy.  W'at  you  gwine  ter 
ride,  Marse  Hade?" 

"I  guess  I  had  better  ride  Black  Fox,  Sam.'' 

"Dat  'pens  on  whar  you  gwine  ter  go." 

"We  will  try  the  old  fellow  on  the  mountain  this  morn- 
ing." 

"J)em  cliffs  er  monstrus  high,  en'  de  gullies  er  powerful 
deep.    I  spec'  Wile  Bill  is  de  best  boss  ter  take  dem  leaps." 

"All  right,  Sam,  I  will  ride  Wild  Bill,  and  you  can  ride 
Black  Fox.'' 

ikXo  sar.  wid  yo'  purmission  I'm  gwine  ter  ride  ole  Gab- 


THE  AMEBIC  AN  FOX-HOUND.  97 


'rell» — a  mule — "heze  sho-footed  en  can  go  inter  de  deepes' 
gullies,  and  clime  de  steepes'  mountins,  en  neber  fall  wid  dis 
nigger." 

"All  right,  you  can  ride  Gabe.  Wake  Eliza  and  tell  her 
to  get  us  a  cup  of  coffee." 

"Lor7,  Marse  Hade,  Lize  bin  up  fo'  de  mornin'  stair  en 
dun  got  everything  reddy.  She  dun  cooked  de  pa'tridges  and 
got  de  coffee  bilinV 

"All  right,  I  will  be  down  in  a  few  minutes." 

While  at  the  breakfast  table,  enjoying  quail  on  toast,  soft 
boiled  eggs  and  a  cup  of  coffee,  Sam  entered. 

"Marse  Hade,  Ize  dun  fed  de  bosses  and  give  de  dorgs 
sump'n  fer  to  stay  der  stuinmucks,  coz  dey  go'nter  have  de 
wurk  cut  out  fer  dem  terday.  Yo'  'aint  got  nun  dat  old  corn 
juice,  have  you,  Marse  Hade?  It  wild  help  dis  nigger 
pow'fully." 

"There  is  the  bottle,  Sam,  help  yourself;  here  is  some 
sugar." 

'"Great  Jehoserfac,  Marse  Hade,  Sam  ain't  gwine  ter  never 
spile  medicine  like  dis  wid  nuffin." 

"All  right,  Sam;  eat  your  breakfast  quick,  then  get  the 
horses  and  let  us  be  off." 

"Yes,  sah." 

While  enjoying  a  Partaga  T  inquired  of  Sam  what  hounds 
we  should  take. 

"Well,  sah,  fus  en  formus  we  must  take  de  ole  Gen'ril" — 
meaning  Forest — "den  Whitefoot,  Cricket,  Chase,  Bee,  Money, 
Baby.  Rip,  Minnie  en  Matt." 

"What  about  Fannie,  Sam?" 

"She  wus  lame,  nn'  de  pups  can't  keep  in  her'n  dis'unce 
after  dat  ole  trav'ler." 

"All  right.     Let  the  others  out." 

And  out  they  came,  ten  as  game  and  fleet  fox-hounds  as 
ever  followed  me  to  the  field,  trained  and  drilled  like  a  com- 
pany of  soldiers.  After  expressing  their  delight  by  a  few 
yelps,  as  if  to  say  "good  morning,"  we  were  off  to  the  grounds, 
eight  miles  distant.     I  looked  at  my  watch;  it  was  4:10  a.  m. 


98  TEE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 


Wild  Bill  and  Gabe  were  enthused  as  much  as  riders  and 
hounds.  We  went  at  a  slow  gallop,  and  the  hounds  knew  full 
well  where  they  were  going.  They  kept  close  up,  going  neither 
to  right  nor  left,  and  not  a  sound  from  one  of  them. 

"Ride  up,   Sam.     Sam,  I  intend  to  beat  the  General  this 


"No,  sah.  I>at  dorg  nev'r  did  live  what  cud  shake  his 
tail  in  ole  Foris'  face." 

"Yes,  I  think  Baby  and  Chase  can  do  it  to-day." 

"No,  sah,  dey  nev'r  will  git  ole  >nuf  fer  dat." 

T  struck  a  match  and  looked  at  my  watch.  It  was  just 
5:20  and  growing  brighter  in  the  east.  We  had  reached  the 
grounds,  and  not  a  hound  had  left  the  road. 

"Now,  Sam,  go  down  to  the  cave" — distant  half  a  mile 
— "and  remain  there  until  you  hear  the  horn.  Don't  let 
him  in." 

It  was  the  custom  of  this  fox  after  standing  up  from  one 
to  three  hours  to  take  to  this,  and  only  this,  cave.  I  was  de- 
termined that  morning  to  kill  him  or  make  him  find  another 
burrow. 

After  Sam  had  had  time  to  get  to  the  cave  I  gave  the  word 
and  the  pack  was  oft'.  I  rode  up  on  the  knob  (though  called 
a  mountain),  and  when  1  reached  the  top  not  a  hound  was  in 
sight  or  to  be  heard.  It  was  indeed  a  typical  morning  for  the 
sport;  a  gentle  breeze  from  the  south,  the  ground  damp  from 
recent  rains,  the  last  of  November,  and  all  things  favorable. 
I  struck  a  match  to  light  a  cigar,  and  looked  at  my  watch; 
it  was  5:40,  when  hark!  the  first  challenge  conies  from  Chase 
(the  son  of  old  Longstreet).  It  was  daylight  by  now,  and 
Baby  answered  two  hundred  yards  to  the  left.  Every  hound 
knew  when  Baby  spoke  it  was  time  to  be  getting  there,  for 
the  game  was  not  far  off.  Forest  now  challenged,  still  to  the 
left  and  repeated  vapidly,  as  much  as  to  say,  "We  are  off, 
fall  into  line  and  follow."  Chase  was  already  with  him.  Baby 
moved  up,  followed  by  the  gallant  little  Minnie  with  her 
clear  tenor  notes  that  seemed  to  lend  wings  to  Whitefoot  and 

• 


TEE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  99 

Cricket  as  they  passed  me  at  breakneck  speed  and  soon  spoke 
out.  Money  also  joined  them.  Bee  was  there,  and  Mattie. 
Yes,  and  then  Rip,  with  his  deep  bass  accompaniment.  I  dis- 
mounted, girthed  my  saddle  tighter,  and  examined  stirrups 
and  bridle,  for  I  knew  the  ride  was  to  be  hard  and  the  route 
rough.     I  had  followed  the  same  fox  a  dozen  times  before. 

The  scent  was  growing  warmer  every  minute,  and  each 
hound  was  now  playing  well  its  part.  I  knew  each  and  every 
mouth  as  well  as  Theodore  Thomas  knew  the  instruments  in 
his  orchestra.  The  pack  emerged  from  the  woods  and  en- 
tered a  large  field,  in  the  center  of  which  were  twenty  or  thirty 
acres  of  briars  and  bushes,  and  T  rode  rapidly  to  the  far  side 
in  time  to  see  the  fox  slip  out.  The  hounds  were  now  in 
the  bushes;  now  they  reached  the  spot,  here  they  come,  with 
heads  up  and  sterns  down,  running  as  if  they  were  in  sight  in- 
stead of  being  four  or  five  hundred  yards  from  their  game,  and 
away  they  go  into  another  body  of  woods.  Knowing  where 
the  fox  would  double  and  cross  back  I  rode  to  the  point  and 
listened.  Yes,  they  are  coming.  After  a  few  minutes  he  comes 
in  sight,  his  brush  extended  and  looking  like  a  staff  of  gold 
tipped  with  ivory;  and  here  comes  the  gallant  pack,  all  up, 
each  and  every  hound  doing  his  best  for  the  trail  (I  was 
glad  Sam  was  not  there,  for  Forest  was  slightly  in  the  lead) . 
They  had  gained  very  little,  if  any,  on  the  fox,  and  off  to  the 
right  of  the  knob  they  went.  I  rode  rapidly  to  the  left  and 
near  the  cave.  Then  T  heard  them  swing  around  toward  me. 
The  fox  saw  me,  however,  and  swung  to  my  left,  and  I  failed 
to  see  either  fox  or  pack,  but  they  went  near  enough  to  Sam 
for  him  to  see  the  hounds. 

T  put  spurs  to  my  horse  and  was  going  to  where  the  fox 
unkenneled,  when  I  heard :  "Oh !  hole  on  dar,  Marse  Hade !" 
I  looked  back  and  saw  Sam  on  Gabriel  coining  at  breakneck 
speed,  and  I  called  out: 

"Stop,  Sam.     Where  are  you  going?" 

"No  whar,  sah.     I  jess  want'r  tell  de  God's  trufe." 

"Well,  what  do  you  want  to  tell?" 


100  THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND. 

"Well,  sail,  'fo'  God  it's  de  trufe." 
"What  is  it?     Tell  me  and  go  back  to  the  cave." 
"Well,    Marse    Hade,    I'm    de    li'ness   nigger   ever   wuz   ef 
Foris  wuz'nt  fli'n'." 

"Well,  weren't  the  other  hounds  flying  too?" 
"Yes,  dey  wuz,  but  Foris  wuz  tliV  de  hi'es'.     Den  Baby 
en  Whitefoot  en  al'em ;  but  dey  never  will  shake  der  tails  in 
Foris'  face." 

T  lost  five  minutes  with  Sam,  and  failing  to  see  them 
through  the  field  I  made  for  the  point  where  I  saw  him  on  his 
return.  I  could  hear  them  coming.  There  he  goes,  over  the 
same  line!  And  here  comes  the  pack.  They  had  gained 
considerably,  and  the  fox  was  not  three  hundred  yards  to  the 
good.  ( Glad  again  that  Bam  was  not  present.)  The  hounds 
were  all  well  bunched  and  were  running  to  kill.  Away  I 
went  with  them,  though  not  saying  a  word  (silence  is  the  first 
qualification  of  a  true  sportsman),  and  for  two  miles  I  rode 
behind  them.  Forest  was  still  leading,  with  Whitefoot  sec- 
ond, Money,  Chase  Minnie  and  Baby  bunched ;  and  Rip,  Cricket 
and  Mattie  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  yards  to  the  rear. 

I  swung  round  the  knob  and  turned  the  fox  from  the  cave. 
Sam  failed  to  see  fox  or  hounds  but  called  out  as  I  passed  him: 
"How  is  dey  makin'  hit?" 
"I  will  beat  Forest  yet.     Stay  at  the  cave." 
"Dey'll  never  shake  der  tails  in  dat  ole  dorg's  face." 
Over  the  fence  into  the  field  came  the  hounds,  and  in  about 
the  same  positions,  except  that  Baby  had  moved  up  to  second 
place  and  was  close  to  Forest.     1   now  went  to  the  opposite 
side  of  the  field,  and  along  he  came,  his  brush  no  longer  carried 
defiantly  in  the  air;  he  carried  it  low  down  now,  as  he  went 
into  the  woods,  the  pack  evidently  gaining.     The  hounds  fol- 
lowed into  the  woods,  and  the  fox  doubled  and  re-entered  the 
twenty  acres  of  briars  and  bushes.     There  the  pack  was  within 
one  hundred  yards  of  him.     I  galloped  to  the  opposite  side, 
expecting  him  to  make  for  the  cave;  though  he  doubled  among 
the  briars,  a  sure  sign  he  was  in  trouble.     Out  he  came  and 


THE  AMERICAN  FOX-HOUND.  101 


only  half  a  mile  to  the  cave.     He  entered  the  woods,  and  then 
commenced  the  race  for  life. 

As  the  pack  passed  me  I  gave  the  first  halloo.  Then  I 
charged  the  fence  and  got  over  all  right.  I  could  see,  though, 
the  pack  had  not  yet  caught  sight  of  the  fox.  To  the  cave 
he  went,  and  I  wished  he  could  get  in  this  time;  but  Sam 
kept  him  out,  and  he  made  for  the  top  of  the  knob.  The 
pack  was  now  in  sight  and  must  soon  kill.  They  passed  over 
the  top  of  the  knob  and  stopped.  Riding  to  the  spot,  instead 
of  a  dead  fox  I  found  he  had  taken  refuge  in  the  root  of  an 
immense  poplar  tree. 

Up  came  Sam  on  Gabe,  screaming  like  a  madman,  and 
falling  from  his  mule  he  seized  Forest  in  his  arms. 

"I  tole  you  so.  Yes,  sah,  I  did.  Use  seed  hit  befo'en  I 
no'd  I'd  see  hit  ergin  terday!" 

-What  did  you  tell  me,  Sam?" 

"Dat  dar  wuz  no  livin'  dorg  what  cud  shake  his  tail  in  ole 
Foris'  face." 

"Sam,  what  shall  we  do?" 

"Marse  Hade,  old  Foris  dun  beat  dis  fox  on  de  squar'  en 
lie  mils'  tase  his  blood." 

Unlike  the  English  sportsman,  I  could  not  resist  the  temp- 
tation to  bolt  this  fox.  He  had  been  fairly  beaten  and  I 
agreed  with  Sam  that  the  gallant  pack  should  enjoy  their 
hard-earned  victory.  I  suggested  that  we  let  Minnie  (she  be- 
ing small  enough  to  enter  the  hole)   go  in  and  drive  him  out. 

But  instead,  the  fox  drove  her  out  with  a  badly  lacerated 
and  bloody  face. 

"What  shall  we  do  now,  Sam?" 

"Let's  put  Min  and  Bee  bofe  in,  en  dey'll  fetch'  im." 

"All  right,  Sam;  let  them  go." 

In  Minnie  went  with  Bee  and  the  fight  was  renewed,  last- 
ing ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  when  the  brave  little  bitches  came 
out,  dragging  with  them  the  dead  fox.  Upon  examination  I 
found  the  toenails  of  this  fox  had  been  worn  off  by  the  fre- 
quent long  runs  I  had  given  him. 


Glasgow,  Ky. 


Webster >: 

ary  Medicine 

Cumn 

sary  Medicine  af 

Tufts 

?nn  v 

. 

■/■ 


r^ 


/ 


